Emily Rose Brennan

Actor and former student, NIDA Graduate, Class of 2005

I am so grateful to have known Kevin. He had a deeply significant impact on my life and career, and I think of him whenever I am writing, acting, or teaching.

I met Kevin when I was 20 and just moved to Sydney to start NIDA. I was enthralled and terrified. I used to sit in his script analysis classes utterly captivated by the rigour and passion that characterised his work, and the way that he unlocked the code of the text through his exacting linear extraction system. I was literally hanging off his every word (this was when i wasn’t nodding off to sleep after two to three hours in those boiling, steamy rehearsal rooms!). Kevin was really hard on me at drama school, and I cared so much – too much probably – about what he thought. I had him on such an unrealistic pedestal, and as a young, vulnerable performer, I was convinced that he ‘hated’ me (haha). But actually, I think he could see what was holding me back before I even knew what it was, and was pushing me to try to overcome it. That was one of his teaching gifts.

One day after an excruciating lunchtime concert singing some god awful folk song he sidled up and said ‘humph – I could see your fear’. God, at the time I hated him so much for saying that, but he was right! I was experiencing terrible anxiety, both performance and generalised, but had no idea. He said, ‘you’re intelligent but full of physical tension’ and suggested that I go and float in the women’s baths at Coogee. He was so right, but at the time I felt so exposed and criticised. I thought – why don’t you!!?

But actually, like the excellent teacher he was, he cared enough to give feedback, encouragement and his wisdom, and like someone else wrote, it was about the work, it was always about the work.

Kevin reviewed many shows I was in and he was always authentic and exacting in his analysis of the performances. It was bracing to see him in the audience, and to read his reviews, but more often than not I really appreciated the excruciatingly detailed and passionate feedback. One day after graduating and working for a few years, I asked him to write me a letter of support to help get a grant. I respected him so much, I knew a letter from him would be a brilliant thing to include. I was almost scared to read it, but I didn’t need to be. Kevin took the time to write me the most beautiful, supportive letter. It was an exacting, detailed and passionate letter, and it was about the work.

After a performance of The Torrents, I saw Kev in the foyer and we shared a lovely warm hug (he was so great at those), and he told me about his ‘miracle’ treatment, and I was so pleased that he was going to be able to be around for a bit longer, being passionate about acting and helping more young people to care about it too.

Yesterday I was preparing a monologue, and thinking about Kev, as I have been all this week. I was having trouble with one line, then checked the script again. And there it was, a full stop that I hadn’t learnt. Suddenly it all came together. I am so grateful that I was able to know and learn from Kevin. Passionate, exacting, detailed and at times terrifying. Sending so much love to his chosen family and gratitude for the updates, and the care you have all shown to Kev. Vale KJ, thanks for everything.