How the journey began …

BACKGROUND: As a child Arminelle studied speech & drama and gained her ATCL (Associate Diploma from Trinity College London). After leaving her law degree (apparently wanting to argue all the time is not the ONLY thing that makes a lawyer) she gained a BA from Queensland University of Technology with a double major in Drama and English (and a minor in History, but that was just to please her Dad). In Brisbane she worked as an actor, stage manager, event manager and drama tutor before returning to Townsville to work at La Luna Youth Arts. There, she worked her way up to Drama Program Manager and finally became Acting Artistic Director in 2011. She left La Luna Youth Arts to work with her good friend Terri Brabon, who had returned back to Townsville to establish TheatreiNQ. As well as running AwA, Arminelle still works at TheatreiNQ as an actor, grants officer and THiNQ ED coordinator.

Arminelle was a “theatre” kid, much to the shock of her parents who knew absolutely nothing about theatre or performing (other than enjoying it from the audience). As Arminelle dragged them from audition to rehearsal to performance, they learnt. And so did she. Arminelle never left the theatre.

AWA ORIGINS: After working with some truly gifted young actors in TheatreiNQ’s production of Frankenstein in 2017, Arminelle saw a gap in the industry - acting training for children and young people based on professional theatre training. After some gentle coercion from the parents of a few gifted youngsters, Arminelle decided (tentatively) to open her own studio. But what to call it. After throwing around a few names and being completely indecisive, Arminelle turned to her friend and mentor in all things, Terri Brabon. It was Terri who suggested Acting with Arminelle because in her words, well that’s what it is. And, since another name never emerged, AwA stuck.

ARMINELLE’S TRAINING: Since graduating from the Queensland University of Technology, Arminelle has maintained currency is the arts and training sector.

  • The month-long intensive at Shakespeare & Co (USA)

  • Trinity College London Arts Award training (UK)

  • Linklater Voice training (Aus)

  • Viewpoints and Laban physical theatre training (Aus)

  • Clowning and Feldenkrais (Aus)

Arminelle is also a certified yoga teacher, registered Justice of the Peace and holds a current First Aid Certificate.