Universal Studios Japan“Don’t limit yourself to one discipline”
Every year Universal Studios Japan audition in Australia for dancers and singers to perform in their shows and this year is no exception.
Tasmanian born Bree Landridge at 23 years of age is currently working at Universal Studios Japan playing the roles of Wendy in Peter Pan and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. At the time of the interview (Jun 08) Bree was 3 months into her contract and loving every minute. Dani Brown took the opportunity to chat with her about life abroad and the work involved to give you an insight into this amazing experience.
What made you decide to audition for Universal Studios Japan? Universal Studios Japan interested me because it was going to be a long contract (12months) and it was going to be in Japan. The second time I auditioned for Universal Studios Japan was because I remembered my first audition experience being wonderful as compared to the experience I had auditioning for other companies. I had heard great things about Universal Studios Japan. People told me that Universal Studios Japan has a fresh approach to entertainment. I have found that to be true.
What skills are important to have to work at Universal Studios Japan? Basic life skills are important for living abroad. You have to have a positive, open mind and patience. The more skills you bring with you, the better. I find that “spatial awareness” is important because in my job, I am all over the place all the time.
How much preparation did you do prior to the audition?Heaps, I worked on song choices because I came to the audition with the roles I was interested in. I had done the research on the audition website (www.universalauditions.com/japan). I took lots of dance classes and I even took pains in choosing my outfit for the audition.
How long were you in rehearsals for your shows and are there any ongoing rehearsals?We rehearsed for two weeks in the beginning and there are no on-going rehearsals for the shows. The directors come to the show from time to time and give notes to maintain the integrity of the show and to keep things fresh and correct.
Can you talk us through an average workday? I wake up, go running, have breakfast, shower and head to work. I usually arrive almost an hour before my call time to have a gossip with the girls in the dressing room. Then I get ready and perform my, normally, four sets. In the time between shows, I will work out, have lunch, play the piano, or just relax, depending on the day. Then I prepare for the second part of my day, the Peter Pan’s Neverland Show, which is like starting the day again with a new cast of performers. I have dinner with the Lost Boys, prepare for the show, and study Japanese with them while waiting for the show to start. After the show, I bicycle home and start again the next day.
What is your favourite part about this experience? Doing the Peter Pan’s Neverland Show is the highlight of my time here. Who wouldn’t love getting dressed up in a princess costume and jumping around with a bunch of Japanese boys at night under the stars and fireworks with the incredible, original Peter Pan soundtrack playing as thousands of people watch?
The work you do is often or based on well-known characters. How do you prepare for each show and ensure your performance is realistic? You must have a clear understanding of the Japanese script. I review my lines each day to keep my delivery clean and correct. Every show is different because I often work with various cast members and different actors act and react differently, which change my acting choices. Working with different people allows me to be ‘live’ as a character and never to act on autopilot.
How important is a good singing voice in your career?It is essential to be a triple threat performer now. You never know which of your disciplines is going to be utilised for any particular job. This is extremely important for me because I don’t have the ‘height advantage’ that many actors have.
Touring and working overseas can be difficult in creating new eating and exercise routines. How long did it take you to get into the swing of things after arriving in Japan and can you offer any advice for achieving this? It was a difficult and challenging transition for me and continues to be with the changes in work schedules to accommodate the needs of the park. You have to be very disciplined in looking after yourself. I get bored doing the same routine. My advice is to get involved with the other people in cast housing and your fellow cast members and say yes to experiences that allow you to get out and move and see the country. It took me a month to realise this. I only just discovered COSTCO! (an importer of western food).
If you could sum up your experience thus far in 5 words, what would they be? Tanoshii! (= fun in Japanese), educational, crazy, inspirational & challenging.
What advice can you offer to other performers who wish to follow in your footsteps? Keep and open mind when coming to Japan. Be prepared to use all of your skills at Universal Studios Japan. Don’t limit yourself to one discipline. Come here prepared and get involved in Japanese culture.