The Dive Podcast
10: Acting Through Song, Memorising Lines and Why Patience is Key with Nigel Huckle
What does it take to navigate the vibrant world of theater and performance? Join us for a captivating conversation with Nigel, an accomplished arts professional.
From his childhood in Australia to his journey through Singapore and the USA, Nigel shares insights into his passion for acting and singing, his early doubts, and the pivotal moments that shaped his career.
Discover the challenges and triumphs of adapting to different theater industries, the power of networking, and the patience required for success in the arts. Tune in for a glimpse into the life of a dedicated performer, from auditions to lead roles in iconic productions like 'West Side Story' and 'Miss Saigon'.
05:23 First Major Roles and Challenges
08:20 Leading a Company and Experiences in West Side Story
10:45 Journey to Miss Saigon and Overseas Opportunities
17:03 Maintaining a Balanced Lifestyle as a Lead
19:35 The Art of Acting Through Song
25:02 The Challenges of Memorizing Lines
Here Are Your Next Steps 👇🏻
Step One: 🫂 Join Free Facebook Support Group
Step Two: 👀 Check out the Momentum Program for aspiring MT performers looking to become professional
Step Three: 🎥 Watch our MOST DOWNLOADED Podcast Episode with Luca Dinardo
What does it take to navigate the vibrant world of theater and performance? Join us for a captivating conversation with Nigel, an accomplished arts professional.
From his childhood in Australia to his journey through Singapore and the USA, Nigel shares insights into his passion for acting and singing, his early doubts, and the pivotal moments that shaped his career.
Discover the challenges and triumphs of adapting to different theater industries, the power of networking, and the patience required for success in the arts. Tune in for a glimpse into the life of a dedicated performer, from auditions to lead roles in iconic productions like 'West Side Story' and 'Miss Saigon'.
05:23 First Major Roles and Challenges
08:20 Leading a Company and Experiences in West Side Story
10:45 Journey to Miss Saigon and Overseas Opportunities
17:03 Maintaining a Balanced Lifestyle as a Lead
19:35 The Art of Acting Through Song
25:02 The Challenges of Memorizing Lines
Here Are Your Next Steps 👇🏻
Step One: 🫂 Join Free Facebook Support Group
Step Two: 👀 Check out the Momentum Program for aspiring MT performers looking to become professional
Step Three: 🎥 Watch our MOST DOWNLOADED Podcast Episode with Luca Dinardo
I think it's Stanislavski that said acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances. So if you just take that sort of concept and give it to any show that you're doing what we do on stage, it's all pretend, of course, but you're living to make it sort of come to life and deliver that reality for the audience. Trust your level of commitment and your pursuit of the realistic circumstances of the show and the scene and all of that. I guess that's not a very formulaic view on acting, whereas a lot of people are like I do my Ivano-Cabric 12 steps or my Stanislavski in actor prepares. I guess if there was a technique that I would identify with, it's my's and her, because I do quite like focusing, taking the focus off me and putting it on my scene partner.
Speaker 2:Welcome back to another episode with the Dive Podcast, where each week, we interview professional performing artists as we discuss their stories and dive deeper into learning how to navigate the challenges we face as artists. I'm your host, taylor Scanlon. I'm a musical theater performer and also yoga teacher and sound healer at the Australian Yoga Academy, where we film our podcast. And today we have Nigel Huckle in the studio with us, who is currently in Missagon, australia, and it was awesome having him in In the episode today we talk on topics of the voice and he tips on how to maintain your voice throughout your career. We also touch on acting and any tips on how to learn your lines and what it takes to fully commit into a role. It was a pleasure having Nigel in. I know you're going to get a lot out of it, so, as always, grab a journal, grab a coffee and let's get into it. Well, thank you for being on the show, nigel. I'm so excited to be here. Thank you, and you're an avid listener. I've heard of the podcast. I am yes.
Speaker 1:It's a very formal podcast. Aficionados, to have one more to add to my library was nice and exciting In a field that I love, obviously, yeah.
Speaker 2:We're so lucky to have you in today and I'm so excited to talk to you and hear about your stories and give people basically what they want, which is lovely.
Speaker 1:I'll do my best. Do my best.
Speaker 2:So before we get into some of the topics on the voice and acting, I'd love to go back and paint a picture for the audience of where it all started for you before your career.
Speaker 1:We'll have to make like a whole episode out of this one part. But I was born in Australia and then my dad got a job in Singapore when I was about three so we moved there. Then my parents split up and my mom remarried an American so we immigrated to the US in about 1998. I was like eight years old and soon after we got there got always sung around the house as a kid like Whitney Houston was my jam whaling as like a three year old, five year old we love. And then my mom was like there's this audition for a musical. It was like our equity house, like professional house in the hometown that I had moved to in Virginia and I sang my Heart Will Go On by Miss Celine Dion and I did a scene with myself from the movie the Barrowers. I love that, I know. I know I was talking to myself like I would step sideways and then be the different characters Pee Green and Ariety.
Speaker 2:That is like giving him a stole job.
Speaker 1:Oh my God, decades ago.
Speaker 2:now yes.
Speaker 1:Honestly crazy. And I got the job. I was one of the lost boys in Peter Pinton, and so, yeah, I was eight years old and that's where my sort of step into theater began.
Speaker 1:But I did all my schooling in the US and then I was deciding on whether I wanted to be an actor. In high school I was taking voice lessons and I was part of this performing arts ensemble where it was pre-professional. We had recitals a few times a year. We had a big main stage review that we did every year and I did that for four years through high school and then I was deciding, like, is this what I want to do? I don't know. I kind of want to be a lawyer as well, and I had a friend actually pull me aside in high school and was, like you have to do this, like you have to be a performer. You can make your career out of this.
Speaker 1:And I think, for someone to believe in me that much like someone else I was like oh, that wasn't necessarily like in it, or yeah. I mean, they were a dancer and they'd see me perform. But I think, just to have that sort of push from someone and my mom was really supportive as well she was like you have your whole life to make money, quote, unquote, but you only have right now to follow a dream.
Speaker 2:Well, sometimes it only takes that one person to just give you that plant a seed in your head and you're like oh, maybe I can, exactly, yeah.
Speaker 1:And then so I did a BFA in musical theater at Shenandoah Conservatory, and that's where my training and real investment in the profession sort of began.
Speaker 2:Great yeah, and what was it like for you training there? How long were you there training? It's a four year bachelor's in the US.
Speaker 1:I loved it. I loved it and it's funny because when I was auditioning for universities. I only auditioned for that one and for one other one that was like my absolute dream to go to, and then I didn't get in. But I found out that I got in early in the first place that I applied for it and I got a talent scholarship as well. Oh, good. And I was like, well, maybe this is the sign. And as soon as I started I was like there's no other place that I have to be but Shenandoah.
Speaker 2:Destiny.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I loved it. But oh my God, you go into theater school thinking you're amazing, you come from high school and you're like I'm the best, I'm the number one, and then, when I didn't get into the musical freshman year, I was like, oh, what do you mean? I was like, oh, so we're really starting at the bottom and now we're going.
Speaker 1:And I was like not a good actor when I started college, but I loved my conservatory experience and music theater, singing, dancing like it was all the boxes and really learned to read music as well, and I loved it. I would do it over again.
Speaker 2:That's so good, and so you only basically then trained in America, didn't train in Melbourne or Australia at all.
Speaker 1:No, no, if you had asked me in high school if I would ever move back to Australia, I would have said you were crazy. But my mom moved back here while I was in college and then I worked for a year and a half after I graduated. I did like a resident company at a theater in Colorado and then I was like, well, I could move to Australia because I've got the passport, why not? Yeah, and it was sort of like a Christmas visit without a return ticket. But at first I was like what have I done?
Speaker 1:Because I had been working pretty regularly in the US and then I landed here and I was like, oh my God, I'm going to book the first thing that I audition, like no problem. And then it took like three years for people to really know who I was because I had no background.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And I didn't go to any of the major schools in Australia. So, I didn't have that chance to build a network or anything, so it just took years of going in the audition room for people to learn who I was.
Speaker 1:And well, now you're definitely in the industry in Australia, which I'm so thankful and feel very welcomed, and I love being in Australia, so it feels good. What was the first show you did in Australia? Well, the first show maybe ever was an opera called Harvey Milk, and that was in like 2014. And then someone saw me in that, and then they put me in another opera called Spanish Time, and then it sort of just tumbled from there, I guess.
Speaker 1:Like people had seen me in something and said come in for this, or which is how it works. When people talk about like the dirty word of networking, it's like, well, it doesn't have to be dirty, it's just show up and do your best work and people will recognize that and bring you along.
Speaker 2:Yeah, when we had the episode with Luca, she was talking a lot about trust, like the family to trust you and need to know who you are and where you come from and what you can bring to the table.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I resonated with that completely.
Speaker 2:I was like, oh, she's so right, because like that's how careers really take form, Because it's a big job to not only be casted but to be given a role to sustain and to really look after and to make sure that you're doing the role at its peak or what it's meant to be doing.
Speaker 1:And it's not just the skill and talent, it's the how can you lead a company and how do you appear on media and all that sort of stuff Like all of that is factored into whether or not you book a job.
Speaker 2:And you learned that along the way. Yeah, yeah, I think so. So like.
Speaker 1:I mean, that's not really something I guess that you learn in universities. How to appear on camera when I went to school was cool in that we had a subject called preparation for the profession. So, there was a unit on learning about the business and I didn't have like a bit of a leg up, I guess when, I left being like oh okay, I know where I want to make it work for me.
Speaker 2:That's interesting, because I don't feel like they have that in Australia.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's quite a lot of things, like we had stage costuming and we had stage makeup class and stage lighting and we were building sets and we were focusing lights and there were entire semesters dedicated to each of those subjects. So you don't really do that. That's amazing, yeah.
Speaker 2:Because, as well, even if you not even say wanted to not be an actor or performer, there's, like all these other avenues as well, within the arts, that you could do Exactly. And to, I think as well you learning all of those different backgrounds of different departments, you probably respect them even more now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Absolutely you know what they have to actually go through.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:You know what it takes to sort of build a set and take one down as well. So there's different levels of theatre in the US and before you join the union you work non-union, and when you're non-union you could be asked to do anything, and when you're on a non-union contract, usually you'll strike the set at the end of the season. So it's just stuff like knowing how it's built and how you can take it apart and where it goes, and taking down the lighting fixtures and stuff.
Speaker 1:Like that's such an important part of theatre training in the US that I'm glad I was able to bring here yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's so good.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you definitely would be able to understand a lot more than I've ever been able to. I started here in Australia, for sure, and so then you went on to lead a company. Was it West Side Story that you did the first time? I did, yeah.
Speaker 1:Which is funny how it worked out, because in 2019 was when I auditioned for it and it was the last of about eight final callbacks in a row that I was at and I didn't book the job at first. But I was sure I booked this job because I heard that the person I was up against didn't get it and threw the grapevine and I was like, oh my god, my agent's going to call me any second. Things change every second. And then I got the call and I answered the phone and I was like, please don't break my heart right now.
Speaker 1:And they were like oh, I'm so sorry, like you didn't get the job, like I'm so sorry, and they sent me donuts.
Speaker 1:They were like I've never given a client a gift for not getting the job. So it's funny that that didn't work out at first. But then, because of how I did in the audition, there was an opportunity later for me to be the alternate for the camera season, so they rehearsed me in and then, just the way that things happened, I was one of the alternates for Sydney as well, but then it was supposed to do a return tour and then COVID happened.
Speaker 1:And then when it was time to do the return tour, they called me back to play the role full time. So you know it's just you never know how things are going to work out like that. But yeah, 2021, that was my first opportunity to sort of lead a company in a commercial tour in Australia.
Speaker 2:I think I saw that show. I think I know where it was I Brisbane.
Speaker 1:Yeah, doing Brisbane, birth in Brisbane was what I did. Yeah, I saw that's the probably person. I saw you, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Singing, singing, all of things. Oh my God, that was a hard job actually, yeah.
Speaker 1:I think I was so in a space, especially after COVID, where you put a lot of pressure on yourself to deliver perfection, which is completely unattainable as a performer and arguably not as exciting as just letting yourself do what you do best and letting it happen. But I remember just that that B-flat and Maria just always annoyed me Right, and I would go to the music director's office and just be like I need to sing the option line, like I need something different, and he was like well, they're paying to see the B-flat, they're coming, so like let's make sure. And that was a few years ago and now I think if I were to go back and do that show, I would do it how I want to do it, for sure and feel confident that I could bring. But it wasn't easy. It was like a mental slog doing that show and but I think I've definitely overcome that sort of block, yeah.
Speaker 2:And now Miss Saigon, which is just an amazing show. I was just talking before. I saw it three times when I was in Melbourne and now it's about to go overseas yeah.
Speaker 1:Are you really excited for that? Oh my God, I can't wait Because you've been to.
Speaker 2:Is it Manila? You're going to the first. Yeah, I did Les Mis in.
Speaker 1:Manila and Singapore in 2016. And Manila's amazing, it's. I always say it's one of those cities that you can get a bit of trouble and it's okay, okay. But that aside, the people are amazing, the fans are incredible, like the reception of the shows are amazing, but Miss Saigon is such a part of Filipino culture because of Leia and obviously that what she did for that show Absolutely, and it's the first time the show's been back in 24 years.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow, and this year's the 35th anniversary of the show and Leia was the last one to do it You're not going to get back. I think our run is pretty much sold out and it's like nine weeks and we just extended for like the last possible time and I can't wait to it's going to be electric.
Speaker 2:Wow, I mean, your introduction to Miss Saigon actually was a while back, wasn't it yeah?
Speaker 1:It was in that job that I did just after I graduated, so 2014,. I played Chris at a small dinner theater called Midtown Art.
Speaker 2:Center Dinner theater that is now closed. Dinner in a show.
Speaker 1:Exactly, and we serve the tables as well. Yeah, you know, you got a base pay of like I think it was $325 a week and we were housed and then. So you would serve the guests, like before the show, and then about 10 minutes before you're like, okay guys, like anyone need anything else, because I'm going to go get in costume and I'm going to go on stage, you do the first act. Interval is dessert time, so you're still in costume and you bring out dessert and then you leave everyone with their bills and you know, because I was playing a lead, they tips quite well, oh cool. So you make money on top of the base right here and doing the show and so I don't need to do that experience ever again. That was sort of my first exposure to the show and loved it. Obviously a much lower budget, much smaller scale, but it was still professional, and so I think that definitely helped when I went in for this audition just to have the music in my bones. So the lyrics are quite a bit different nowadays, right?
Speaker 2:And so that would have been obviously really special, coming back to the show in Australia as well, performing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:So you feel?
Speaker 1:like coming home in a way.
Speaker 2:And good that you kind of knew the show as well so that it wasn't super out of context. You could actually really be here and really enjoy it for what it was.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and what was crazy about the process of getting the job was I was living in the US at the time. I'd moved back to the US and, you know, my agent called in like November of 2022 and was like hey, you're in a short list of people that are interested in playing this role, but you still have to go through all the rounds and stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So I was like I don't know how I'm going to get hired from the US, but fine, I sent my first round, didn't think about it and then I moved on with life as you do. Middle of January I had like a Zoom live callback. I hired a studio in New York, gosh those Zoom callbacks. But I did it and I was like that was one of the best auditions I've ever done. But again, how are they going to hire me?
Speaker 2:Yeah, you never know what they're looking for, and I didn't know when the final callbacks were.
Speaker 1:I was like when am I going to hear?
Speaker 2:That was probably good for you that you were kind of not fully here. It was just kind of something you were touching in and I just gave it my best.
Speaker 1:But then in two hours I had an email that was like hey, we're so sorry to ruin your weekend, but we have to put you on a plane to Australia tomorrow, so literally the day after the day after. Yeah, the Zoom was Thursday night. I was on a plane Friday.
Speaker 2:Cancel all your plans. You're going to Australia and.
Speaker 1:I had like a weekend reunion planned with like my three best girlfriends from college and we hadn't been all together in like years and I was so looking forward to that weekend.
Speaker 2:I was actually quite disappointed because I was like oh my God, because it was to come to auditions, right? Well, it was to fly for a final callback, you know, but it wasn't like. You've got it. You know you're coming here. Yeah, you know, you were kind of still like.
Speaker 1:I'm so sorry, but like I have to go to Australia tomorrow and I can't come to this cabin weekend, wow, you know. So landed Sunday morning work session Sunday night Right away. Yeah, yeah, I like I think I took like a four hour nap because I was still jet lagged.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Monday morning more work sessions, and then Cameron McIntosh was in the room on the afternoon, and then I was back on a plane to New York on Wednesday.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's a funny man.
Speaker 1:Oh, I had a great time. You know, I was a bit nervous because it was it's like the boss. This is why you're here. Yeah, I had a few moments outside where I was like I don't know if I can do this, and then I was like no, no, hold on, you were brought here for a reason.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it was probably kind of good that it was rushed, because you probably didn't have time to think about it. No, not really.
Speaker 1:And it wasn't super like formal audition process. It was just a bunch of work sessions and going in and out and pairing with Abby and pairing with Carrie and it was really really a lot of fun.
Speaker 2:That's awesome, and now you're going overseas and you just did a run in Australia as well. What was that experience like for you? And working with Abigail as well?
Speaker 1:Well, it's amazing because Abby is 19 and she's so powerful and just seeing what a 19 year old, with her life experience, is capable of bringing out onto the stage. And she's not someone with formal training either. She's been in voice lessons for ages, but I'm like, oh, I've got a BFA. And she's like I was on my first year of law school and suddenly she's turning out this powerhouse performance and it's really, it's really outstanding, like it's mesmerizing to watch and also to be opposite her, and because the show requires so much commitment.
Speaker 1:It's that kind of story that if you don't fully commit it can seem a bit unrealistic or far fetched. Like how did this sort of story come together? But, it's all about the commitment. And she is just always there and just pouring it and you know, as someone who's got Quite a year, many years on top of her to sort of watch that is and be part of it is is inspiring Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, going into more your kind of like routine and how you look after yourself being a lead. Is there anything that you do ritually? Do you have your set rituals or are you kind of just see what the day brings? Or I thought I was a ritual person.
Speaker 1:Okay, and then I Sort of had discovered that I like having my days free to do what I like. I'm not someone who's like I need to catch up with this person, this person on these days Like. I do quite like to have the days of shows to myself. But there was something cool about being in Sydney where you go to the beach in the morning and then you go do the show at night.
Speaker 2:That was wild like I'd never had that experience. I think. I don't know what episode it was. I think it was Kali Davis and we were talking about that like actually working in Australia, one of the best things is when you're, I say, on Broadway or you're in London, you can't. Yeah, you know in between shows, even just like go to the beach or you know, do something on you know the same day.
Speaker 1:It's yeah, yeah, it's unmatched like it's awesome, I think, in terms of like Things I do to preserve my voice, I try not to get too Tied up on it. You know I'm not like, oh, I can't have coffee after this certain time. There's certain things that, like I won't eat super close to the show because you know what that does to the reflux or what have you.
Speaker 1:yeah, but otherwise I try and not to let the show sort of take control over my life because it's a job and I'm there to do the job and I'm there to enjoy it as well, and then there to enjoy the whole experience that comes with it, and I guess you're different every day as well, yeah so each day you're gonna be required something different.
Speaker 1:Yeah, even though the show is the same, but you personally yeah and different every city, actually, because in Melbourne I really struggled and I think it's because of Maybe the pollen or something. Yeah, for the first few weeks after opening, I had swelling on my vocal folds. So, wow, I had to take two weekends off of the show, which was so boring and then the ENT had me on like a Staggered return plans.
Speaker 1:I did five shows one week and seven the next week and then was back to a full schedule by closing and I was like, oh, what's happening that I can't give my voice in check. And then when we went to Adelaide, I didn't miss a single show, you know. So come on Melbourne. I know I'm like, but it's sort of those things that you have just, I guess, relinquish control and relinquish like the sense of defeat, or yeah, well, I guess there's some things that you can control and there's things you can't say absolutely.
Speaker 1:There's no point worrying about what you got yeah.
Speaker 2:Going into talking about acting through song I know we were talking just recently about in Australia. There's a lot of I don't say pressure, but a lot of focus on you're going to acting class and you're doing just solely acting, and then you're going into singing, you're just solely singing and dancing, vice versa. But what we're seeing is there's a really big missing link in acting and bringing them all together. Yes, kirsten King always says acting, and what is it? Music and dance coming together.
Speaker 2:That she says, to bring it all together. So I would love to know your Experience with learning how to act through song and any tips that you can give on that topic.
Speaker 1:Well, it did start, of course, with basic acting without song and again, when I started in College, I was a terrible actor. I got a C plus in my basic acting class and I was like what on earth and and I'm not someone who really resonated with like this is your objective and you know this is what you're going after and these are the sort of tactics that you're using to get that Objective.
Speaker 1:Because I'm like, I'm just thinking about how to say the words, like how am I building this sort of subtext underneath? But I think, as I've learned through my career, is acting is how much of a level you're willing to commit, and Because I think it's Stanislavski that said, acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances. So if you just take that sort of concept and Give it to any show that you're doing what we do on stage, it's all pretend, yeah, of course. Yes, but you're living to make it sort of come to life and deliver that reality for the audience.
Speaker 1:And I think, as I was saying before about the show like Miss Saigon, that story is so it could be very real because it is historical fiction in a way. But the twists and turns that the show takes Are quite out of left field, and so you have to be able to commit to that story. And I think when you're singing, that commitment comes not just from, like, how you're delivering it you know dramatically but how you're giving it musically as well. Yeah, the music paints a picture to where there are accents, where there's dynamics and what you want to build in as well.
Speaker 1:Especially in a song through show like Miss Saigon, yeah, and I think also when you're on stage with someone too, it's so much about listening as well.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:I did a masterclass. It was like a screen masterclass during COVID from okay, let's, chantry, he's, yeah, he's like a film actor and teacher. And he says this quote about an actor listens with their blood. And I heard that and it just clicked for me. And Acting isn't just about what you're singing, it's also about how you're behaving when you're being sung.
Speaker 2:Yes, we're being part of a scene. Yeah, cuz, I guess, if you're just focusing on what you got to do and you're not really, yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1:And so I think I find a lot of challenge and I find a lot of focus in listening to what's happening across from in that Informs your next delivery and how you react and exactly, and then so I think it's just levels of Commitment to the story, and I guess there were times where I was like, what do I do with my hands?
Speaker 2:Big thing, especially I don't know a lot of dancers. Yes you know, even with singing, they we all just like want to move.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think there's room to sort of forgive your mind of like Bringing that up, because that same masterclass that I did with lez he was talking about People who, actors, who correct themselves, because oh, oh, that wasn't very like human, that wasn't very realistic of me and it's like, well, you are a human and you did that, whether it's on stage or on screen or in rehearsals or whatever. Therefore it is a human act. So you can find other ways to do it, but you can sort of forgive that sense of not knowing what to do with your body or your hands because it's a discovery, yeah, and I mean, I guess a lot of it is subjective too, because I could be watching you and you're doing something.
Speaker 2:I'm like, what are you doing there? And then someone else to be super captivated, or you know so it's really, it's really hard, or putting a Fine line with where you even position all of it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and even in rehearsals for this show. You know, I, we were in tech and and there's this part in the host healthy where I was like doing a lot of stuff to my hands and the swings are all watching during tech and one of the swings mentioned like stuff with your hands and I was like, oh wait, or my hands like doing weird things. He's like, no, your hands are beautiful, don't think?
Speaker 2:about your hands and I'm like, okay, you're right, okay, I couldn't let that stuff go.
Speaker 1:So I think we think and manifest a lot more mentally and psychologically than actually appears and it's just if that's coming from your delivery than it is and trust your level of commitment and your pursuit of the realistic circumstances of the show and the scene and all of that. And I guess that's not a very formulaic view on acting, Whereas a lot of people are like I do my Ivana Chabuk 12 steps or my Stanislavskiy and actor prepares. I guess if there was a technique that I would identify with, it's my nerve, because I do quite like focusing, taking the focus off me and putting it on my scene partner.
Speaker 2:That's great, yeah, and going into scene work and even memorizing lines. I know, with being a lead, you have lots of different lines. Is there anything that you do in the process, even pre rehearsals or during rehearsals, that can help you learn the lines faster or get them out of the paper into the brain.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, if it's really complicated, I have sort of mnemonics or I'll remember like the alphabetical order or whatever. And I think I did hear another guest say they have tricks where they put letters or whatever.
Speaker 2:Everyone does it different. Yeah, it's just yeah. Endless ways, yeah.
Speaker 1:But I would say and this goes for auditioning as well like I heard someone a director say when they get compliments about like, oh wow, how did you learn all those lines? And it's like asking a chef how they boil the water. It's sort of something that you have to do.
Speaker 1:And you know you and I know that as professionals. But I think when you're younger or starting out, you're like just so daunted by like I have to learn all these lines, and it's like, yeah, you have to learn the lines and repetition and you will learn the lines, and when you learn the lines, you'll go and say whatever it is, but like just learning the lines is the first step and something you sort of just have to get used to.
Speaker 2:You want to, and I guess, if you're nervous with that, just do it more. Yeah, yeah, honestly, like anything you know yeah, yeah, letters, alphabetical order stuff.
Speaker 1:I'm not someone who learns by rote, like I do listen. I do learn sort of a rhythm to spoken word. So I will often notice if I've said the line wrong because it didn't fit the time or fit the rhythm, that I've learned the line it, you know. So yeah.
Speaker 2:Great, I love it. Well, I know that you've had a lot of experience in the arts and, like we said, you're about to go overseas. I always love asking people at the end of or near the end of the podcast about advice that you would give yourself If you could go back to the beginning of your career. You know, just about to start in the industry. What advice would you give yourself?
Speaker 1:Just to be patient, which is so hard, because you think you want to start straight away and you want to just book everything and make lots of money and buy a house or whatever it is and like have a massive career. But I had a career that I was really proud of in my 20s but it didn't go like I imagined. But by just staying the course and being persistent and patient with how it was going to develop, you know, in a way I had less control than I usually do in an audition for getting Miss Saigon you know that was all just people I'd known before and the work that I'd done in audition rooms previously.
Speaker 1:I was out of the country, so you can't have a grip necessarily on all of it, on your career. You have to sort of let it flow and if you want it, bad enough, and if, if you know you have what it takes, you'll do the work. You'll do the work, yeah, and you'll persist, and you'll persevere. And it's just about the patience.
Speaker 2:Were you not as patient when you were starting? Do you find or?
Speaker 1:I think in sort of maybe like my early to mid 20s. I was like I have to book everything that I go in for.
Speaker 1:I just have to. And you know I played a lot of roles in regional theater in the US like we have quite a big regional theater culture over there. So you know I played roles when I was younger, professionally, and I think when I would go in for auditions for like really big things, if it wasn't the right fit, I'd try to like push myself into the box of like you know, I will make this extreme of my voice work. And then sort of in my late 20s and now I'm like I know what I fit and I know what I do well and I know if I go in for that audition I'll smash it. But if this isn't the audition for me, I'm just in there to say hello, thanks for having me. This is the best that I got and it was great to meet you See you later.
Speaker 1:See you on the next one. That's it, but it takes patience to figure that out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, do you teach at all Like if people wanted to work with you. Are you a teacher? I've kind of always wanted to teach.
Speaker 1:Like I'm really keen on coaching. Yeah, I think I would quite like to do that. Cool, I just don't play piano. That's the only thing, but there are tracks out there we can do it.
Speaker 2:That's it, yeah, no.
Speaker 1:I'm really interested in coaching.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Because I love teachers, Like I got so much out of my teachers in my career and I feel like they've really filled my cup and where I've gotten to now, I would love to sort of lend that to other people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, great, we can put your handle. And if you have any questions for us, or Nigel as well, you can email us at info at thedivecom Dead A Year.
Speaker 1:Yes, please do, please do.
Speaker 2:Great. Well, thank you so much for coming, Taylor. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:This has been awesome. Thank you, you're welcome.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for listening to another episode with the Diode podcast. If you have any questions for myself or Nigel, you can email us at info at thedivecomau. As always, if you enjoyed the episode, you can like, rate, leave a review, comment and message us. And, as well, if it resonated with you and you feel like this could help someone else, share it with a friend. And if you haven't yet, check out our website wwwthedivecomau. You are missing out. Weekly we upload content on their free content to help you as a performer, and this is knowledge not just coming from decades ago in the industry. This is knowledge and tips and tools and techniques that are being used now in the industry. So if you haven't checked it out, please go ahead there. And of course, we have all of our other episodes that you can go and binge watch right now why not? And until then, I'll see you on the next one.