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Overview

Welcome to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. For over forty years WAAPA at Edith Cowan University has been entirely committed to enabling talented students to realise their artistic and creative ambitions and prepare for highly rewarding careers in the global entertainment, arts and culture industries.

Much celebrated for helping to launch the careers of many world class entertainers – including Hugh Jackman, Emma Matthews, Tim Minchin, Lucy Durack, Jessica Gethin, Karl Thomas (ShockOne) and Dacre Montgomery – WAAPA is also the place where hundreds of musicians, designers, technicians and performers have taken their first ambitious steps towards fulfilling careers throughout the workplace.

As soon as one steps foot inside WAAPA, it is impossible not to tune into the energy and vibrancy of this remarkable School. It is a special place where artistry, creativity, self-expression and collaboration are encouraged. All of our students are possessed of extraordinary gifts and with the dedicated support of WAAPA’s skilled and passionate staff team, we enable you to sharpen your skills, master your chosen discipline and prepare you to meet the ever-changing creative demands of an immensely challenging, but hugely rewarding industry.

With a focus on hands-on training delivered by outstanding world-class practitioners, WAAPA’s acclaimed teaching staff are committed to helping all students realise their artistic potential through intensive practice-based training. Successful pedagogy in the performing arts is only useful when it is informed by strong partnerships and connections to the industry itself. Continually fostering its relationships with institutions, organisations and companies across the arts and entertainment sectors – both nationally and internationally – WAAPA continues to be at the cutting edge of new developments in training, education and professional practice.

As we help to influence and shape training and professional practice across the world, WAAPA’s international influence continues to be enhanced as do the extraordinary achievements of our many outstanding graduates.

Executive Dean WAAPA
Professor David Shirley

Aboriginal Theatre

Aboriginal Performance


WAAPA’s Aboriginal Performance program prepares students for the demands of professional work as an actor and performer in theatre, film and television.

Acting

Acting and Screen Performance


Studying acting at WAAPA is an inspiring and all-consuming experience. The courses produce graduates who are prepared for a career in a wide variety of media, including theatre, television, film and radio, both in Australia and internationally.

Arts Management

Arts and Cultural Management


WAAPA’s Arts and Cultural Management graduates are versatile employees who are industry ready for exciting and challenging careers in the arts and entertainment industries.

Dance

Dance


WAAPA’s Dance programs train classical and contemporary dance artists by utilising teaching methods designed to develop and refine the skills of each individual.

Music

Music


WAAPA Music students follow a specialised performance-based curriculum in their chosen area, in addition to studying a common core of history and theoretical studies.

Music Theatre

Music Theatre


WAAPA’s acclaimed Music Theatre course provides graduates with the skills and experience required to engage in professional theatre practice.

Performing Arts

Performing Arts


Preparing confident graduates who have the technical and creative skills to execute ideas to a high professional standard, the bold vision required to build the future of the performing arts industry.

Production and Design

Production and Design


WAAPA provides Production and Design students with the greatest diversity of ‘on-the-job’ theatrical experiences.

Postgraduate Studies and Research

Postgraduate Studies and Research


Postgraduate studies provide a practical-based learning and research experience enhanced by the opportunities offered by the multi-disciplined nature of WAAPA and expert supervision by WAAPA’s outstanding research staff.

We offer a large selection of courses and disciplines across our study areas, with the right balance of practical experience and academic excellence and a wide range of study options. If you want to reach your potential in a learning environment that is supportive, flexible and relevant to the real world - then you've come to the right place.

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