An emerging creative in the South Australian film and theatre scene, Ren Williams (BCreatArts(Drama) ’20, BCreatArts(Hons) ’21) has only ever wanted to do one thing since she was born: act. This tenacity to hone her craft and create her own works has led to performances that have well and truly been noticed by industry heavyweights, resulting in an ever-growing list of accolades for the young actor, writer and director.
Given her one-eyed fixation on entering the creative industries, it was a no brainer that studying Drama at Flinders was top of her list upon leaving high school.
“When looking at different places to study, I had seen so many success stories that came out of the Drama Centre at Flinders and in South Australia it’s undeniably the highest of calibre for acting schools,” she says.
“To work with industry professionals at University was such a key thing.”
Ren attributes her ability to hit the ground running after graduation to the fact students were given the ability to perform three shows a year, along with multiple interstate trips to meet influential figures in the industry, allowing connections to form at a pivotal point of her career.
“In fourth year, we went to Melbourne and Sydney to meet the theatre companies, which has led to me now returning to the East Coast years later and having conversations with people I met back then – it was such a leg up,” Ren says.
Soon after graduating, Ren won the 2021 State Theatre SA’s Young Playwrights Competition for her play Modified – one of the highest honours handed to young writers in South Australia.
“My first year out of uni was 2021 and it was very much a time of planting seeds,” Ren explains.
“Auditioning for anything I could go for, going to different events, meeting theatre companies. I was able to set up, with three other graduates of Flinders Drama Centre, the CRAM Collective, which I could then channel my performing skills, as well as my producing and directing skills, into.”
CRAM instantly saw success, being announced as recipients of the Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator program major prize, which included seed funding and mentorship with the State Theatre Company. Then in 2023, they were a finalist for the Carclew Young Achievers Awards.
Last year, Ren teamed up with fellow CRAM member and Flinders’ 2022 Early Career Alumni awardee Madison Siegertsz to create the short film This Is Fine for the International 48 Hour Film Project. In the SA division, This Is Fine won Best Film, Best Writing, Best Directing, Best Acting Ensemble and Best Poster – sending the film to the finals at Flimapalooza in Seattle. Against competitors from around the world, it won Best Writing and took out third Best Film, qualifying them to have the film shown at the short film corner at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025.
“The Cannes Short Film Festival was a massive pinch me moment,” says Ren.
“Being able to make a film in 48 hours with a lot of Flinders alumni and take it to Filmapalooza in Seattle was huge.
“Another recent unbelievable moment would be touring North America with Bluey’s Big Play, which was just an amazing experience.”
As a tenacious creator, there’s always plenty in the pipeline for Ren. She is currently working with the Slingsby Theatre Company to present their final production, A Concise Compendium of Wonder, at the 2026 Adelaide Festival, which she hopes will also tour nationally.
Just to add one more feather to her cap, Ren was named in The Advertiser’s list of 24 South Australians to Watch in 2024. Given her sharp rise to notoriety, Ren ensures to stay grounded and give back where possible to those only just entering the world of creative arts.
“For fresh graduates, I try to encourage them to keep that same excitable passion for performing they have at Uni once they enter the real world,” she says.
“Because it can be so hard, and people lose that spark through the slog and the hustle of trying to find work. My biggest tip is to remember why you’re doing this, remember the love, remember why you spent four years studying and keep chasing that that dream.
“If you want to make it, create! Don’t wait for the opportunity, use your passion and create your own stuff, you won’t regret it!”
Ren Williams was awarded a 2025 Early Career Alumni Award for significant contributions to Australian film and theatre by fostering opportunities for others in South Australia.