Almost 100 Flinders graduates and students attended an Adelaide Fringe Club event in early March that showcased the creative arts in South Australia and featured Flinders drama graduate, Xavier Samuel and Flinders creative writer Chloé Eckert.

The Q&A discussion, held on 9 March, was led by Flinders Strategic Professor of Creative Arts, Julian Meyrick and was an opportunity for budding creative arts graduates and students to hear from two graduates who are enjoying significant success in their chosen fields.

Xavier Samuel graduated from Flinders University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours).  His performance playing Riley Biers, leader of the army of newborn vampires in the third of the Twilight films, Eclipse, propelled him to fame and was the springboard for a host of starring roles.  His other film credits include September, Newcastle, The Loved Ones, Drift, Anonymous and Adore.

Xavier was in Adelaide in early 2014 for the State Theatre Company production of Chekhov’s The Seagull, and kindly agreed to participate in the special alumni event.

Chloé Eckert, won the State Theatre Company Young Playwright of the Year Award in 2012 for her perceptive and poignant play, Sage, which had an award winning season at the Fringe in 2013.  Her second play, (finger)prints, was awarded 4.5 stars in the 2014 Fringe Theatre Guide.