PROJECT WESTALL WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM

As part of Windmill’s longstanding Education Program, the company provides opportunities for student work experience throughout the year. These opportunities are typically available during the development or remount of work, inviting 1-2 students at a time inside the rehearsal room, where they’ll learn from and work alongside leading industry practitioners.

This year, we’re taking the usual approach and turning it up by 100 through Project Westall. A new take on our Work Experience Program that’s out of this world (literally… or possibly… we’re not sure yet… read on for more).

Across two, week-long intensive workshops, up to 24 x Year 10 students from schools across Adelaide will be selected to take part in the very first development of our next new work, inspired by one of Australia’s most famous and intriguing UFO sightings.

April 6^th, 1966. Westall High School, Melbourne. It’s recess, and on the school oval, hundreds of teenagers witness a silver object hovering and taking off at great speed, or did they?

A new work in development exploring fact, fiction and the power of belief. Blending perceptions of truth and investigating mass sociogenic and psychogenic phenomena, we look to ask our audience – who do you believe, and why do you believe them?

Selected through an application process, Year 10 work experience students will undertake a series of daily tasks, designed and led by Artistic Director, Clare Watson and key Windmill creatives from various disciplines including dramaturgy, production design and film making. As creative collaborators, students will not just witness but be active participants in the research and development stage of theatre making – truly from the ground up!

In two blocks, each week will host up to 12 students between 10am – 4pm, in-person from the Windmill office in the Adelaide CBD. Only available for students in Years 10.

Applications have now closed.

FAQ

When will I be notified if I have been selected?

• Students will be notified by Friday 9 May.

Who is eligible to apply?

• South Australian Year 10 students who can attend in-person sessions from the Windmill studios in Adelaide CBD. You must have permission from your school and provide a Workplace Learning Agreement Form. 12 students will be selected for each week of the workshops.

Where will it be held?

• At Windmill HQ in our rehearsal studio located in Adelaide College of the Arts, 39 Light Square, Adelaide SA 5000.

When will it be held?

• The program will be delivered in two blocks from 10am – 4pm. Week one: 23 – 27 June, Week two: 25 – 29 August. Each week will see a different group of 12 students take part. These dates are set and unable to be moved.

Who will supervise / lead the sessions?

• Windmill Artistic Director Clare Watson will lead the sessions accompanied by a suite of local and interstate creatives spanning various creative practices including acting, movement, dramaturgy, sound design, set and costume design, AV design and documentary film making. All employees at Windmill have a Working with Children Check.

Who owns the ideas and creative outcomes of the sessions?

• Because we are working towards creating a theatre production, some of the ideas generated during the workshop sessions might end up on stage! By participating in these sessions, you agree that all rights to the work and contributions made during the sessions will be owned by Windmill Theatre Company. By taking part, you also agree to waive all rights to any contributions you make at the session in perpetuity in any and all formats and media now known or later devised. Windmill will endeavour to acknowledge the contribution made by the original workshop group where possible.

Can I attend online?

• Unfortunately, online attendance will not be possible. We want the sessions to be collaborative so attending in person is essential.

Can I attend part time?

• Part time attendance is also not possible due to the brief nature of the engagement. We want to ensure participants don’t miss out on any key learnings and experiences so full time attendance is essential.

What do participants need to bring?

• Creativity, ideas, thoughts, burning questions and an open mind, in addition to their own lunch and snacks. There’s a kitchen on site with a fridge and microwave students are welcome to use. There’s also plenty of great spots to grab a bite within walking distance of the studios.

Can I do Work Experience with Windmill at another time, outside this program?

• No, sorry. This is the only opportunity for work experience with Windmill in 2025. Applications will open later in the year for 2026 work experience placements.

Curly question? If you have a question not listed above, feel free to send us an email or give us a call:

• Sarah Pledge, Development and Marketing Executive: sarah.pledge@windmill.org.au | 08 8210 7200