"That consciousness of quality and the need to demand it can galvanize your energies...The attempt for excellence is what sustains the most well lived and satisfying successful lives" - Meryl Streep.

Ah, the great Meryl Streep. Certainly one of my favourite actresses, and she is the epitome of excellence and success, which leads me to one of the most profound interviews that I've ever seen her give.  In this particular interview, Meryl talked about going to see a Broadway musical after the tragic 9-11 events. She noted that the audience were depressed, glum and naturally low in energy. However Meryl said by the end of the show, people had risen to their feet, clapping, cheering, smiling and laughing. It was escapism from the outside world, Meryl said it was quite simply - a medicine.

That 'medicine' is essentially the power of story telling, which is why I do what I do and why I love it. I love exploring other identities, and stepping into someone else's shoes, whether it's through song, drama, dance, or a mixture of all three. When I step onto a stage, I feel as if I'm home. I liken performance to a roller coaster, it's nerve wrecking, scary, so much could go wrong, but the reward is the greatest adrenaline rush, and it's always one heck of a ride.  

Leading lady Patti Lupone has advised her audiences to "prepare for bliss...Come to the theatre with the expectation of being transported". That's what good story telling does. It takes you on a journey. 

Speaking of journeys, as many of you will already know, I've spent the last three years living in Singapore and completing a BA in Musical Theatre. Life changing is an understatement - it was a journey of self and artistic identity. Now that I have graduated with first class honours, it's time to make the dream I've had ever since I was little girl become a reality: to perform on the West end stage. People have said to me, well why not America, why not Broadway? Well I'm definitely not ruling it out, but I've felt a pull that can't be explained to London and Europe.

Late last year, I knew I needed a plan. Upon research, and talking to colleagues, plus some prior knowledge I had of UK drama schools, I looked into The Guildford School of Acting (GSA). GSA audition all over the world - London, Glasgow, Dublin, Chicago, New York and Hong Kong to name a few. So in February I flew to Hong Kong, spent a day performing repertoire in front of a panel with other auditionees and doing performance exercises. We were told 3000 students apply for GSA with only 24/25 being accepted into the Masters Degree course, which was a tough pill to swallow. 

However, after a few weeks I received an email from GSA informing me they were impressed with my audition, but wanted me to meet the programme leader through an interview on Skype.  A few weeks later, I received the golden ticket - an offer on the Masters Degree course!!! :)

So you ask, why the Guildford School of Acting (GSA)?

- The Guildford School of Acting, as part of the University of Surrey, was ranked in the top 5 UK institutions by the Guardian for drama and dance at university level . GSA is the first to offer Musical Theatre as listed in the top 5 schools. 

- One of the UK’s leading drama schools for student satisfaction (2014 National Student Survey).

- The MA Musical Theatre is specifically designed for those who already have an undergraduate degree or have worked professionally in the performance industry for at least five years. They look for individuals who have the necessary self-discipline and motivation to master new skills and refine and develop existing capabilities.

- There is a strong emphasis throughout the course on building relationships with industry professionals through workshops and masterclasses. The programme culminates in a showcase of scenes and musical numbers presented to casting directors and agents in Guildford and a West End theatre.

Gaining contacts, further skills, working on my craft, a masters qualification and showcase on the West End, it's a no brainer for me!

However, I need your help. After completing a three year degree, like many students, unfortunately I'm not swimming in money. Like many top drama schools they aren't cheap. The UK itself is becoming more and more expensive. 
Whether or not you can make a pledge, just sharing this with friends and family is a huge help!!! Or if you do make a pledge, you can get some really wonderful rewards in return! Cakes, paintings, bags, lessons! It's all there. If you wish to make a pledge without wanting a reward then you can do that too. 

Check out on the rewards bar in blue to your right if you're on a desktop computer. If you're viewing this page on a mobile, scroll to the top and click the little picture of the present with 'rewards' underneath. Otherwise keep scrolling down for more information!

Thank you so all so much! :)

The Rewards System

Master Degree Course fees:
per semester = £8,950.00
      year total = £17,900.00 (NZ$42,320.00)

University accommodation (on campus):
per semester: £3,000.00
       year total = £6,000.00 (NZ$14,185.00)

Grand total (not including food/transport/material costs) = £23,900.00 (NZ$57,164.00) 

For this fundraiser although I've pledged NZ$10,000, if I am successful this will be able to cover a semester of university accommodation, plus hopefully cover any materials that are needed for the course e.g. dance shoes, dance wear. 

The biggest challenge for this project is having enough $$$ to finish my Masters degree (1 year duration) and to stay afloat in the UK during that time!