Bachelor of Performing Arts graduate Oliver Skrzypczynski is taking to the stage in Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre Company's production of The Tempest in Brisbane...

Oliver, from the 2007 graduating class, is a member of the Zen Zen Zo company's internship group but already has new roles scheduled.

Oliver (far left) in 'The Tempest'. Photographer: Simon Woods

It's all a dream (starting) to come true, since all his efforts to date have concentrated on a career in theatre.

"I have been offered a part in the Queensland Arts Council-funded touring production of Zen Zen Zo's The Odyssey, which will be touring through Queensland schools next year," Oliver said.

"I am also rehearsing as an understudy for Zen Zen Zo's Butoh Production: Zeitgeist, which is having a season at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year and is planning to have seasons in the Adelaide and Melbourne Fringe Festivals."

Oliver attended high school at Emmaus College in Rockhampton, where he was involved with the school orchestra and concert band as a percussionist and was on stage for a number of the musicals the school produced including Sweet Charity, The Music Man and Godspell.

Performing Arts graduate Oliver Skrzypczynski

"I went into the BPA straight out of high school and immersed myself in everything and anything theatrical.

"I played a number of onstage roles in the University productions of A Chorus Line and Chicago. Since graduating, I moved down to Melbourne and began teaching instrumental music in schools in the Eastern Suburbs. I was also involved with a production of Cabaret in Melbourne with Nova Musical Theatre, playing Clifford Bradshaw."

Oliver is looking forward to a brief break after his internship but will be attending auditions around Brisbane.

"Basically, I would love to keep performing as an actor/dancer/musician, but I do have a the prospect of directing a production with young performing artists in Rockhampton either next year or the year after.

"I'm wanting it to be a circus and physical theatre-inspired piece which draws on the stories of young people living in Rockhampton as an urban centre in a rural area.

"I'm think I'm pretty lucky that I'm starting to work in the theatre, which is also my hobby. Everything I do outside whether it be dancing, playing guitar, the drums, singing ...  all feeds into the work I want to do.