Page 64 - MAY_2017

“The audition process was a very full
on run. It was like five or six days and
it was supposed to only be three,” she
said. “Everyone at the beginning of
the audition kind of dropped off from
hundreds down to fifty, and fifty down
to twenty, and then it would go back up
to thirty. It was really confusing but they
had a really hard time deciding who
would be that five because they did just
have a miraculous amount of talent in the
audition process. I still don’t know how
they chose it.” With rehearsals, shooting
and promotional activities filling up her
days, Clarke was just humbled to even be
part of Hi-5. To her, it was something she
always dreamed of doing and it gave her
art as a performer meaning. With Hi-5’s
legacy of providing a fun and interactive
show for kids, she knew much of her work
was important: every dance, every scene
and every song.
“We’re only the smallest part of how
this show kind of functions,” she said.
“Just getting on and doing our own
thing. It takes so many people for the
show to kinda come together and that’s
what I probably admire the most is the
dedication of everyone in their job.
“The series is about the kids, not about
having something amazing. Every time
we were given a direction from our
director, it was really based on how the
kids were going to react to this; how they
were going to feel loved. I just admire
that the product is based around the
audience, which is kids and giving them
something amazing. That’s something
hard to find in this industry so I’m very
lucky to be working in a job where it’s
about the product and the people.”
Her passion for making a difference in a
child’s life was important to Clarke. Not
only in her work on Hi-5 but post-HSC,
she took a gap year and spent a couple
of trips in Cambodia. From there, she
had the opportunity to work on different
64 may 2017 | mychild
projects - one of which was building a
primary school for the children. Through
their hardship and making the most of
what they had, it was a life-changing
experience for Clarke.
“I could tell you all the lessons I’ve learnt
from that sort of thing but it was just so
amazing to go spend time there,” she
stated. “Funnily enough, I was going
over there to try and love people but all
I received was love. Like they’re just so
kind and so caring and they just want to
play with you. All the kids just want to play
and they don’t have any boundaries and
they’re just so open. It was like a really
life-altering experience to spend time
there and experiencing their culture.”
During her teenage years, Clarke was a
very active member in the community arts
of Lithgow. She took part in all aspects of
performing arts and volunteered in several
community-run events. With her town
being made up of mostly elderly people,
she explained that within the last ten
years, the foundation of arts
has grown in Lithgow.
Feeling proud of
her opportunities
back at home, she
was humbled to
have grown from
such a tight-knit community.
“I guess one of the beauties about
a small town is that everyone is so
connected and knows each other,” she
said. “Everyone is also so supportive
since I’ve gotten the job. It really
does show when you come
from a small town just how
supportive the community
is, as well as all that other
stuff. Everyone is just so
accommodating and really
caring and they want you to
do well and you kind of need
that if you want go out and
give something a try.”