Academic, Writer, Superhero - Bianca Reynolds (nee Butler)
Class of 2006
“If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans!”
Bianca graduated from Citipointe Christian College (then Christian Outreach College) in 2006. During her schooling years she enjoyed writing, but it was through a Drama excursion to the theatre that she discovered her love of plays. Being a part of the NOVA Arts program allowed her to discover her talent and her first comedic script was born.
Bianca began her Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in Creative Writing Production at QUT in 2007. The focus of the course at that time was on prose and poetry but her best feedback came from her written dialogue. Her love of script writing was developed and Bianca found freedom and enjoyment in this area.
After graduating, Bianca worked as a Research Officer at UQ and saved up some money to travel to Europe and Japan until the funds ran out. Upon returning home, she became engaged to her long-time boyfriend (whom she’d met at QUT) and they married in 2014.
A move to Canberra for her husband’s job found Bianca teaching drama at a children’s theatre group, developing her range of skills further.
Bianca returned to study in Brisbane and completed her Honours year in 2015. She zeroed in on script writing and decided that she would “become an expert at this thing that I love.” Her one year of self-directed learning in Gothic Theatre for Honours led to her PhD, “Psychological Analysis of Family Homecoming Dramas.”
“Research happens in little niches. For each contribution you have to go narrow and deep so you can become a world expert on something, but it is only a small something”.
Bianca is grateful for the spiritual grounding she had at school. “It was a wonderful environment and one thing that stands out to me is how much time the teachers invested in me and the individual attention that was given to each child. I remember Mrs Moore (Head of Secondary) taking me for English and quite early on she noticed that I had a spark as a writer. She went out of her way to try and help me explore that and she introduced me to new texts that might help me develop as a writer. She took a personal interest in me as an individual, not just as one of many students. That meant a lot, that individual investment.”
Bianca said she remembers four or five teachers who made a real impact on her. Mrs Thompson (who developed and ran the NOVA Creative Arts program for many years), was a very significant figure in Bianca’s life at school and for years beyond. “She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself and that made a huge difference.”
Bianca says that “Mr MacIntosh was an amazing, crazy and inspiring, wonderful teacher who now freelances set designs around Brisbane.” Being in the same industry, they recently caught up for coffee and he is still very inspirational. Miss Pratt, Dance, and Miss Sumner, Drama, were also very influential. In fact, Miss Sumner (who was a young new teacher) went on to become a close friend and was Bianca’s bridesmaid several years after finishing school.
Bianca’s advice for anyone wanting to have a career in the creative industry is that there is no set path. You need to be prepared to make your own way and take different opportunities as they turn up. “I am a writer, also an actor, a director, a producer and I work in theatre. I also teach, I am an academic and I am a part of a children’s charity, The Starlight Foundation, where I get to dress up as a super hero and entertain sick kids. I do a lot of different things and together that constitutes my vocation. I am a person who thrives on variety, so I quite like that. The more skills you have, the more employable you become and the more doors will open for you”.
As Bianca talks about her work as a Captain Starlight, a depth of care and a raw empathy is revealed that is extremely endearing. “It is very special. I get to be with families in some quite intimate and vulnerable situations in their lives and it is a real privilege. It is not something I take lightly. You are being invited into this very intimate space where families are kind of stripped back and vulnerable and scared a lot of the time. You feel like you are helping in some small way by giving them a positive experience”.
Bianca was equal Dux of Year 12 and has taken the attitude of doing her best at whatever she tries. She says she invested in all of her subjects, not just the ones she enjoyed the most and this is a good way to live your life.
“I remember some advice given to me by one of my lovely teachers. It was the Bible verse, ‘Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path’ in Psalm 119:105. She explained to me that at the time it was written a lamp would only illuminate the next step in front of you. You can’t actually see the whole way. Moving in faith is seeing just the next step and taking that step. And I feel that is the approach I now take in life, to embrace whatever opportunity comes to me. I love the expression, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans!” Let it come, because you can’t see what the adventure is that is waiting for you. You just need to do the next thing.”
Bianca said she would be happy to make herself available to any students with an interest in the Arts to offer some encouragement, mentorship or the ability to answer questions they may have.
If you would like to get in touch with Bianca for mentoring or advice, email Devoffice@citipointe.qld.edu.au and we can connect you.
