Back in Year 8, Matt Boulton—now in Year 12—took drama as an elective and found himself in a class full of people who really wanted to be there. It quickly became his favourite class and still is.
Drama has brought unexpected benefits too—not only making Matt much more confident to do stuff on stage, but in everyday life.
His favourite character? Last year in the Year 11 ensembles, Matt played ‘Edwin the Butler’, a chaotic, zany character.
“I was super invested in that role and the character was such an idiot—which meant I could incorporate mistakes into the part,” he says. “It took all the pressure off.”
Matt says he does get nervous before a performance, but copes by moving physically as he waits backstage and prefers to rush on.
“My teeth chatter and it’s almost like my body gets more nervous than I am.”
Matt plans to take a gap year in 2026 to immerse himself in local community theatre, then begin auditioning for bigger roles, or roles in bigger productions, the following year.
“I don’t really want to go to uni because there’s no guarantee it will make me a better or more successful actor.
“My long-term dream is to get into the movies,” Matt says, “And my ultimate dream-come-true would be to have my own action figure.”
With his flair for comedy, it’s no surprise to hear that Michael J. Fox and Robin Williams are two actor role models who impress Matt.
Michael J. Fox is not only a great actor, Matt also admires his commitment to using his Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis to do all he can to raise awareness and increase research into this debilitating, progressive, neurological disease.
In a sad irony, Robin Williams also contracted a disease similar to Parkinson’s—but one with far more devastating dementia, accompanied by severe depression.
“I always felt like Robin Williams was such a great actor and comedian. He could take on roles that were incredibly moving and, even in comedies, add this incredible emotion.
“In a small role he would inevitably still be the best and most memorable character.”
Matt would love to see an annual production at BSSC, performed in Ulumbarra—something like Shrek the Musical.
While Drama is a clear favourite, he’s also taking Theatre Studies, English and Vis Comm & Design.
Last year he completed a 3/4 subject, Art Making & Exhibiting-Drawing, and says it’s the hardest class he’s ever done.
Yet this, and all his subjects, are incredibly relevant for Matt who has a great back-up plan if acting doesn’t fly—or if he has the opportunity and desire to expand into other domains.
“I would also love to be an author with a similar style to David Walliams, who writes fantastic wacky graphic novels for young audiences. I really enjoyed his books when I was in Years 5 & 6.”
Graphic novels require the author to have excellent drawing and cartooning skills—something Matt loves to do.
Matt may dream of being in an action-man role, but he already has a very handy super-power for someone who needs to learn their lines.
“I have a really good memory,” Matt says. “I can type up my notes from a class when I get home if I prefer, and I often draw in class while still listening to my teacher.
Somehow I just absorb it and remember it.”
Learning his lines is so easy for Matt, that if he’s actually the one who’s written the script, he’s already learnt his part by the time he’s finished.
“Though obviously you need to practice with others,” he says.
BSSC reminds Matt of “those big US schools you see in the movies”.
The art floor and the way it showcases student work, and the many unique and diverse pics lining the stairs all impress him.
“I looked forward to coming here from my 7-10 college because I was ready for a bigger environment and a new challenge,” says Matt.
“The start of Year 11 felt like a real step up, but I quickly realised I’d picked a subject that just didn’t work for me. Once I swapped into History, I was fine.”
When VCE gets a little stressful, it’s no surprise to hear Matt will chill out with a movie. He also likes to listen to music—movie scores of course—when he studies.
After 18 months at BSSC, Matt says he would recommend the college “for sure!” and has surrounded himself with a group of great friends, giving him a strong sense of being well supported.
He’s also grateful for his family.
“Mum’s a good cook, I think I’ve inherited Dad’s sense of humour, and it’s great to have an older sister to learn from her life experience.
“I’m glad I was born in Australia—it feels like a kind of privilege—because I feel like we are not impacted so much by global affairs. But, we also don’t seem to have much influence internationally, so for actors, you seem to need to go to the UK or US to really make it.”
While Drama gave Matt something he loved and continues to love, he also says his early secondary years were pretty hard as he struggled with feeling depressed.
“It would be great to go back and tell myself, ‘It’s going to be fine. You’re going to meet fantastic people in future. You will have a fantastic girlfriend and you will get into acting’.”
