Dream Job for Actor

A younger Shannon Haegler would never in his wildest dreams have imagined his future as theatrical.

Starting high school with straight A’s in maths and science, his sights were set on a career in medicine – that was until he enrolled in a trimester of drama while in Year 9 at Toowoomba Christian College.

With some encouragement from his drama teacher, Shannon soon had the theatre bug; appearing in school productions as Mercutio (Romeo and Juliet) and Banquo (Macbeth).

It was his role in Romeo and Juliet which truly ignited his passion for acting and a love of Shakespeare.

Now, in his final year of a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Acting) at the University of Southern Queensland, Shannon is well on his way to fulfilling his dream of a career as a professional actor.

His penultimate performance whilst at USQ will be one of his most challenging.

The mild-mannered young man will take on the role of one of history’s most captivating and treacherous villains; King Richard III in the USQ Shakespeare in the Park Festival’s season of Richard III.

Shannon will reinvent himself to portray the monstrous Richard; a powerful and theatrically electric character whose stage presence dominates the play.

Both physically and emotionally demanding, the role will see Shannon onstage for the entire performance, delivering a number of monologues and soliloquies.

Joining Shannon will be his six final-year classmates, cast into the remaining 32 roles, in this exciting new interpretation for a modern audience directed by Scott Alderdice.

This year, the Festival will make a major move – onto the University campus – to take advantage of a range of outdoor and indoor performance spaces – featuring the magnificent open-air mainstage on the University’s picturesque front oval.

Since its inception in 2004, over 40 000 theatre-goers have enjoyed the spectacle of live theatre at the annual Festival, with theatre lovers and novices alike sharing the wonderfully unique cultural (and social) experience.

Many a heart fluttered at Romeo and Juliet (2007) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2011); Macbeth (2007) and Hamlet (2004) wowed audiences with their powerful tales; The Tempest took audiences on an extraordinary, otherworldly adventure; and Twelfth Night (2010), The Comedy of Errors (2006) and Taming of the Shrew (2005) showed-off the lighter side of Shakespeare.

This year’s thrilling mainstage production of Richard III will run from 12-27 October, commencing at 6.30pm each night (gates open at 5.30pm).

Audiences are encouraged to pack a hamper and bottle of wine (site licensed for BYO alcohol only), bring a blanket or chair and enjoy a picnic dinner as the sun sets before the show.

The 2012 Festival program will also include the all-singing, all-dancing To Glee or Not to Glee project (17 October) and Shakespeare on Screen (14 October) offering a chance to enjoy film adaptations of Shakespearean works on the big screen.

For more information about the Festival visit www.usq.edu.au/shakespeare or call the USQ Artsworx Box Office on 07 4631 1111 to book your tickets.