It's National Volunteer Week!
So we thought we’d take this chance to introduce you all to our newest (and returning) volunteer, Penn O’Brien!
If you’ve been following ActNow Theatre for a while, you may remember Penn from 2017 when they did a week of work experience with us. Penn has been involved with Riverland Youth Theatre since they were a young child. Through Riverland Youth Theatre, they’ve been involved in a number of projects including writing and recording the pilot episode of a podcast and being the assistant director of a production of ‘Peter Pan’. Penn studied drama in their senior years of school, both writing and directing a performance for the class. On top of all that, they have also been a part of their local headspace's youth reference group which organizes and runs projects - acting as a representative group for young people in the region!
We’re really excited for you to get to know them more… So we had a sneaky lil’ Q&A with Penn.
How did you first find out about ActNow Theatre?
I first found out about ActNow Theatre through the artistic director of my local youth theatre, who suggested it to me while I was looking for places to do work experience in high school. I spent the week in Adelaide touring schools and volunteering as part of the project Speak Out. It was an amazing experience and I've been eager to be involved with the company again since I moved to the city.
What are three things people should know about you?
I grew up in the Riverland, right along the Murray River, so I'm enjoying being able to visit the beach more often. My main interests in theatre are writing and directing, which I've done mainly through school and the youth theatre in my home town. I've been fortunate enough to write a short play for an Adelaide Fringe performance and a script for the senior school production at my high school. Outside of theatre, I enjoy visual arts, especially painting and sculpting, although I often experiment with different mediums. I'm taking the time in isolation to learn new skills like wire sculpting and embroidery.
Penn is smiling at the camera. Behind them is a wall of green plants and vines.
What do you enjoy about volunteering?
I think volunteering is a great way to meet new people and become engaged with an organisation or cause simply because you enjoy it and it helps other people. That's one of the biggest draws for me, being able to do my part to make things easier for others.
Why did you want to volunteer with ActNow?
I admire what ActNow stands for, their values and their focus on diversity and social change. I believe performing arts can be a valuable tool in sharing stories and broadening people's experiences, and I think the company utilises the medium really effectively by bringing their performances to social settings.
Penn is currently working with us on our queer projects. Interested in volunteering with ActNow Theatre? Contact us!
National Volunteer Week is an annual celebration acknowledging the wondrous generosity and contributions of volunteers across the nation. Find out more here.
