Youth Arts

Romeo and Juliet is one of the most iconic stories ever told; forever intertwined with passion, love, hate, revenge, expectation and destiny. However, it is also one of the most overdone stories. Every person who has been through the pleasure (not) of 9th/10th grade has had to delve into the tale of those two lovers. 

STARCROSSED however is a beautifully told modernisation of the tale that captures exactly what it can be like growing up in the present day; the messy, the beautiful, the funny, the reckless. I was delighted to find that it was written and produced by a group of Toowoomba’s youth, which makes sense why it resonated with me and I’m sure many others, with tasteful references that didn’t feel like cheap excuses by out-of-touch adults trying to appeal to 'kids these days'.

The camp setting, characters and their motivations, plot and set design all created an engaging atmosphere that truly had me hooked from the start. The comedic choices were brilliant, the dynamics felt organic, and the actors in the Senior IMPACT Ensemble showed true dedication and talent that left me speechless. This is not to say the show didn’t have any gripping moments; quite the contrary. Between scenes, a haunting eerie voice would speak as if cursing the campers, changing the tone completely. The twists and out-of-the-blue developments left me on the edge of my seat by the end, watching everything unravel in front of me.

My favourite funny scene would have to be any scenes with the camp leaders Charlie (Levi Paroz) and Phineas (Ben Thomas). Their comedic choices and timing were brilliant and had me laughing every time they came on stage (and running off it). My favourite deeper storyline however had to be the reveal of Rei’s (Lara Anderson) secret to Eli (Logan Sanders). As a queer kid, it single handedly explained exactly how I feel while also showing one of my biggest fears on the stage. I felt seen.

STARCROSSED is definitely a production I hope to see again one day and one that will stick with me. Its relatability, comedy, emotion and atmosphere created one epic show. Congratulations to everyone who worked on this show, it was definitely a pleasure to watch. 

Although I have seen many musicals and productions in my life, this production was certainly one I will cherish forever.

STARCROSSED was the story of rivalry, revenge and romance performed within a 90-minute show in the Empire Theatre’s Heritage Bank Theatre. Under the guidance of the Empire Youth’s Arts team, Toowoomba’s Senior IMPACT Ensemble 2024 presented a two-show season here at the Empire.

This modernised version of Romeo and Juliet depicted how theatre can bring our youth together even if it means they must undergo many challenges to unite. This performance was continuously taking unexpected twists and turns which added an extra element of excitement and curiosity throughout.

My favorite element of this production was the way in which it featured a group of Toowoomba’s youths and gave them an opportunity to write and bring to life a production that will stay in their hearts for many years to come. Seeing how this show depicted the challenges we are currently facing through societal expectations made me realise just how much of a struggle our youth face.

Each and every actor in STARCROSSED brought such a level of talent and professionalism to the show which made me so grateful to be growing up surrounded by such talented young artists. There wasn’t a point in the show where I thought the actors could have brought any more enthusiasm to this show as there was always such a positive energy that you could feel was between the cast even in the times of tragedy throughout the show.

The way in which the stage was set for the show was an incredibly effective use of space and really helped to add an extra level to the storyline with a realistic summer camp set. The costuming was spectacular as it truly was so special to that summer camp.

STARCROSSED truly was a show that I could never forget through the incredible acting and dedication of our Toowoomba Senior IMPACT Ensemble 2024.

Waru: Journey of the Small Turtle is an amazing First Nations stage production made for kids, that tells the story of a turtle called Migi, and her journey. This play was created by Stephen Page to introduce children to the world of stage and drama. The play does this by engaging with their younger audiences, either through funny lines, dances or by breaking the fourth wall and interacting with the kids.

Migi the turtle is first seen in the show in her egg, but as the show progresses, she hatches and is faced with some difficulties, but luckily a woman is there to help her from her nest and into the ocean, and even from a reptilian predator. The show is filled with humorous and light-hearted themes and is recommended for ages 3-8. A moment such as when the children help Migi and her siblings out into the ocean, made the show very special and memorable for the young audiences. 

I loved the way the show used lighting and design. For example, I loved the projections at the back of the stage because they were so pretty, and your kids will too. Besides that, the actors did an incredible job of telling this story.

In my opinion, you should definitely take your kids to see this show, because it will be something they will enjoy very much and be something special for them to remember, all while they meet the beauty of storytelling. 

I always feel very privileged to be able to see live First Nations theatre and The Visitors was no exception.

Set during the landing of the first fleet The Visitors depicts a group of First Nations Elders having a meeting where they are deciding whether or not they let The Visitors, being the First Fleet, land.

The play was so so powerful; the manipulation of staging was absolutely brilliant, and the plot and dialogue of the play really made it a standout. The full play ran for 90 minutes, with no intermission. Throughout this the seven actors never left the stage creating a 90-minute glimpse into history, into a conversation. A real conversation that also wasn't one-sided. As an audience member I had a completely different idea to how I believed the play was going to go, and was impressed when it was instead a real, authentic, multi-sided discussion. Some characters changed their minds while others stood rooted to what they believed. 

There was a line in the play that really stood out to me; "Born of the land, belong to the country, that's who we are as people." As someone who is not First Nations, I know that the land I live on, that I tell stories on, does not belong to me. It is and always will be Aboriginal Land. How beautiful was it to see a story as powerful as The Visitors told right here at The Empire. 

I fully believe more people should've seen this run. When I went the audience was sparse. The show is important for so many people to see as it's a story of a less heard side of history, and there are some people in the Toowoomba community who would've benefited from seeing this show as it is a truly eye-opening experience.

The show really did shock me, I have learnt about the first fleet countless times, but hearing such a realistic conversation, the stories and troubles faces by First Nations communities really moved me. I left wanting to learn more, wanting to hear and see more First Nations stories and theatre. The Visitors was incredibly powerful and I was so lucky to have seen it. 

Always was, Always Will Be.

For my first show as a part of the Empire Youth Arts Highlighters team, this production was certainly one to remember, with it's out of the ordinary inventions and storyline.

Whalebone was a comical and inquisitive children’s show performed in the Empire Theatre’s Heritage Bank Theatre. Under the guidance of Jens Altheimer (the actor himself), Whalebone presented a 3-show season here at the Empire and an Australian touring show over 2024.

This mind-boggling show depicted what the future may be like with the development of Artificial Intelligence and the increasing use of technology to complete day-to-day tasks. The performance demonstrated how some of our common items of today may hold a very different story in the years to come. The memories associated with these significant objects in this time may be wiped clear of their story with the use of AI becoming a part of our new normal.

One of my personal favorite elements of the show was the audience interaction and how this added to the excitement of a family and particularly child-friendly show. The enjoyment of being able to assist with the storytelling of this wonderful show lit the three participants’ faces up and proved how special theatre is to our youth here in Toowoomba.

The lighting and soundtrack that assisted with the storytelling added an extra element of surprise and “magic” towards the show. The way in which the stage was used with various machines proved an incredibly effective use of space to add a further level of meaning to Whalebone.

I hope that through Whalebone’s Australian tour it excites the lives of many more children and families as it truly was a magical, enthralling show filled with surprises that you don't see coming.

Dance is a profound form of human expression that surpasses the need for language, instead conveying emotions, stories and cultural/social values through skilled movement. Dance is one of the most raw, powerful and innately human art styles, and ‘The Type’ presented by Pink Matter Entertainment showcases this perfectly. Through a combination of Street Dance and contemporary theatre, this outstanding group sets out to empower women through their vibrant choreography and colourful music. As someone who is inexperienced with the technicalities of dance, I was moved and mesmerised by the fluidity, flexibility, passion and power each performer delivered, and how masterfully they were able to stretch the limits of the human body. Although contemporary dance is not for everyone, I truly think because of the range that the performance had, from emotional, to upbeat, to just pure human connection, anyone would be able to find something they enjoyed. Dance is a medium of art that is forever changing, growing and adapting with society, from Dreamtime dances to contemporary; It keeps on moving.

Of all of the live theatre I’ve seen in my lifetime, this show has to be one of my favorites. 

Fourteen is a play by Shake & Stir Theatre Co based on an autobiographical novel of the same name. It follows the story of Shannon Molloy (Connor Leach), a fourteen-year-old in 1999 Yeppoon, and his struggle to navigate a high school who hates him, simply for being gay. 

We are introduced to this world through the eyes of Shannon, a wildly creative teen who suffers from extreme bullying at school. The other students scream slurs at him, beat him up at lunch, and many of the teachers are no better. The ensemble of the show (Helen Cassidy, Karen Crone, Judy Hainsworth, Ryan Hodson, Tom Oliver, Steven Rooke) play all the different characters he knows, loves, and hates; His overprotective brother, his first boy crush, the supportive but aloof youth leader, all the students who make his life a living hell, and more. 

Although the set doesn’t change at all throughout the show, we get to see a range of different locations, all supported by a soundtrack filled with your 90’s favorites. Shannon is a huge fan of Shania Twain and The Spice Girls, but that just makes his sport-oriented Catholic school think he’s a gay dweeb who, according to his religion teacher, will go to hell. 

Personally, I think that 14 is definitely the minimum age for seeing this show, due to severe language and very explicit themes, but at the same time it has an incredibly important message that, unfortunately, is still relevant today. Fourteen is one of those shows that will have a lasting impact on the way you see the world, and I highly recommend it to all audiences (above the age of 14). 

Our Egg Named Larry was a heartwarming and well-constructed stage show performed by the 2024 Junior IMPACT Ensemble, showcasing the ups and downs of friendship and teamwork. The play was Co-written and Directed by Grace Sankey and with Sheldon Mcloughlin, and input was provided from the cast to make the production similar to modern life, including the use of everyday Gen Z language.

In Our Egg Named Larry the characters are given a task by their teacher to prove they are responsible enough to go to the school disco. Despite the students’ beliefs that it is unfair, they are assigned a project to take care of an egg, which they later name Larry, together. Over the course of the show, you get to watch as the relationships between each of the characters develop, and how the trust within their group blooms.

This production was very comedic and fun, but also includes themes that are a little deeper, and that some people might be able to relate to. The cast did amazing job at expressing how sometimes it is painful to get everyone to work together, especially if they are Year 9 students with completely different personalities.

Together the cast of Our Egg Named Larry was incredible, but individually they all did such an amazing job. As someone who relates to the character Brian and his experience with his parents separating, watching his monologue and his unveiling of those emotions of confusion and frustration was brilliant. Overall, the casts performances and how the trust between the characters grew, was something I will never forget.

I loved how the lights spotlighted on an individual character to give them a moment of solidarity, allowing them to express how they really felt; for example when the lighting focused onto Summer and she told the audience about how she feels the need to keep everyone happy. I also really enjoyed the use of the area, extending from just on stage to in front of the curtains to make it feel like they were really in different places.

Once again, this play is must-see production by some very talented young actors who have worked very hard to make this the best show they can, which they have definitely succeeded in. It included teamwork, trust and friendship between a group of clumsy Year 9 students and an egg named Larry.

I’d like to start off this review by mentioning the fact that I am only 14 years old, two whole generations below the target audience. So, with that in mind, this review will tell you why I absolutely loved this play.

The Gospel According to Paul is a brilliant one man show that follows the story of the 24th prime minister of Australia, Paul Keating. It stars actor, writer, and comedian Jonathan Biggins, as he describes the world the way Keating saw it.

The show is set inside of Paul’s office and is unlike any show I’ve ever personally seen before. Rather than acting out what happened in Paul's life, Biggins tells the story of his life, shattering the fourth wall entirely. He takes the audience on a journey, from small country town boy to one of the most significant leaders in Australian history. Paul grew up with a loving family and went on to drop out of school at 14 (My age!) and pursue a career; Not that he knew then what that career would be.

Biggins portrays Keating brilliantly, with masterful skill for the dry sarcasm Australians are known for. His wit, his strong beliefs, his charisma all immediately make you want to side with him.

As I was easily the youngest member of the audience (I doubt I was even a third of the age of most people there) I didn’t get many of the jokes he made and had no memory of the people he mentioned or the references he made. However, this didn’t impact at all how absolutely hilarious I found the show, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves politics, comedy, and (as an added bonus) a bit of song and dance.

This Is The Last Goldfish That I Am Going To Eat For You, by Grace Jarvis is a comedy show that highlights the uniqueness of the human experience and the odd, memorable, cruel, clumsy, plus everything in between that comes along with it.

Grace Jarvis and her setlist of plentiful childhood and teenage anecdotes was captivating and enthralled the audience with its relatability and hilarity. Through the perspective of an LGTBQIA+, neurodivergent and fellow former Toowoombian, Grace presents her life experiences in chaotic call-backs, unexpected connections and social commentary on topics spanning from religion, queer identity, veterans, and her own neurodivergence. However, she doesn’t shy away from making the tone more serious, sharing her experiences with mental health and self-harm, without feeling exploitative and edgy, but purely conversating and removing the taboo of it in conversations; Which never lasts long enough to dampen the mood – quite the opposite – it helps to familiarise and create a personal and safe-space which helps the jokes hit even harder. This is apparent, when making not-so-subtle digs at Toowoomba as a former resident, the audience was more than happy to agree and laugh along with her.

The humour, the atmosphere, the relatability, the emotions and overall, the show itself was able to create an electric environment providing a pleasurable and memorable experience with lots of guttural laughter from the crowd. So, if you are the kind of person who enjoys a presentative and engaging sense of humour I encourage and implore you to check out Grace Jarvis, and I hope to see more of her comedy in the future; maybe in attendance of her new show coming to Australia, Oh The Horrors!

I've never been to a comedy show so I was truthfully very scared of audience interaction and safely chose to sit in the 2nd row. Comedian Grace Jarvis instantly made a mention of that, and how there would be no audience interaction- Thank YOUUUU!

As the "weird kid" of my family, this show hit hard. Especially my bladder. Boy was she SUFFERING. I can't say I've ever eaten a goldfish, but I have grown up neurodivergent, queer and a theatre kid in a regional town. I fit the trifecta.

Grace's show was so relatable and funny, I never stopped laughing and I also started crying at one point (from laughter, she's only joking everyone).

I spent one third of the show cackling so loud I inevitably lost my voice. Another trying not to piss my pants. And the final trying figure out where I recognised Grace's face. Tiktok? Nah, it was her casting of "the gay cat in Toowoomba Choral Society"...

How do you tell a comedian you've never met that she's the reason you're a theatre kid?

This Is the Last Goldfish That I Am Going to Eat for You was a brilliant show. Grace currently is in Brisbane for the annual Comedy Festival and I would highly recommend going to see her new set Oh the Horrors!

Whisked away to a classic tale, The Empire Theatre’s 2024 production of Rodger and Hammerstein ‘Cinderella’ was nothing short of perfect. Directed by Tim Hill the show was a spectacle, from the costumes to the choreography everything was straight out of a fairytale.

The story follows Ella as she navigates a life of hardships, from a wicked family to poverty Ella is a strong and powerful female character. She dreams of different lives around the world and eventually gets to follow that path as she attends a masquerade dance. The show follows all the typical story beats of the classic tale but with modern twists, the added revolution, cries of poverty and corrupt government powers adds a sense of realism amongst the magic, the way the characters overcame their troubles with humour and love was truly magical. I really enjoyed the way each character was given depth, they all had hopes, wants, and dislikes and it provided for a deeply entertaining show.

Every single actor was amazing, but multiple had me fixated the entire show. Shannon Gralow as Cinderella was true perfection, the vocals she delivered were straight out of a Disney film. She gave Ella humour and passion outside of her kindness. Flynn Walmsley played Jean-Micheal, a regular townsman with a heart of pure gold, he fought to bring attention to the kingdom and the royals about the sufferings if their kingdom, paired with Flynn’s outstanding comedic timing Jean-Micheal was a standout character. Finally, a character that captured my attention was Lydia Cunnington as Charlotte one of Ellas stepsisters. Her performance of ‘Stepsisters Lament’ was bright and captivating making her a personal stand out.

The costuming was gorgeous, the choreography was fabulous, and the dancers were absolutely incredible. This show is truly amazing, nothing short of perfect, The Empire Theatre created magic on the stage I plan to see it twice more. The magic was sealed with a shooting star outside the theatre I never wanted the clock to strike midnight.

Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella played a 6 shows season at The Empire in 2024 attracting a total audience of 6,500 people. 

Cinderella, directed by Tim Hill at the Empire Theatre was breathtaking. Every scene, costume, character, background and moment of the story was special and they couldn’t have made this masterpiece any better than it already is.

The show is based on the story of a girl named Ella (Cinderella), who lives with a horrible stepmother and two spoiled stepsisters. The play focuses on Prince Topher and Ella’s relationship as they meet and get to know each other. There are strong themes of friendship and of some protest, with characters mentioning the troubles and struggles of poor people in comparison to rich people. I am a big fan of the romance and tense themes that the show portrays. I felt excited at every new scene, waiting for what amazing idea they would include in the play.

I love how Cinderella’s relationship with Prince Topher/Christopher grew. Prince Topher seems to be very interested in Ella as a person, not rejecting her kindness just because she is poor. I also love Cinderella’s honesty and trust with the prince. She didn’t try to be his “dream girl,” she just acted as she did every day, like herself. 

In general, all of the actors did a great job, but there were a few performances I could not get off of my mind. Shannon Gralow (Cinderella) is such an amazing and talented person. Being able to act as well as she did in the show is one talent itself, but being able to sing incredibly well, too is truly astonishing. I must point out Flynn Walmsley’s performance on stage, too. Flynn Walmsley played my favourite character, Jean Michel. As soon as he walked on stage, I am sure the whole stage loved his energy and humour because I sure did. I am a fan of how he portrayed Jean Michel and the character’s memorable personality. 

The use of lighting when the Fairy Godmother used her powers was very creative. I also loved the costumes. Since parts of the show was set in a palace, there were many different coloured ball gowns that looked absolutely gorgeous. Out of every set there was, my favourite was the cottage Ella, her stepmother and her stepsisters lived in. There were so many interesting, playful and creative elements hidden inside and out, such as a piano hidden inside a set of drawers, a fox and raccoon and much more. Again, this show was breath taking and I highly recommend it to everyone. There are jokes anyone would enjoy and in general it is really just an incredible show with incredible dancers, actors and singers.

Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella played a 6 shows season at The Empire in 2024 attracting a total audience of 6,500 people. 

Static Air performed by the Senior Impact group of the Empire Theatre is a wonderful play that is a call to change, a call to everyday people to make change, and to find their own purpose in the world.

Set in the future, the world is a vastly different place. No radio, no rain, and strangest of all, no clouds in the sky. In a desperate effort to create more rain, this world has “could factories” designed to produce clouds, although even with all their efforts this proves unsuccessful. Soon after a day of work some cloud factory employees find something strange, a room that they latter discover is a radio station from the old world, which they use to create their own radio show. Apon discovery by the attenuators they flee, returning to their normal lives at the factory, until news of an uprising from the people they finally get to run in the rain.

From the soundtrack to lighting, this play was always entertaining and got a lot of laughs from the audience. This play was beautifully produced and had a lovely message, speaking of climate change and the impact the current generation will have on the fate of the planet was fantastic. The talent displayed from the young actors was fantastic and they should congratulate themselves on their amazing work.

A blank white sheet serves as the backdrop, tall and imposing. The workers, dressed in their orange jumpsuits and topped with hardhats, are ordered in rank-and-file, their hands over their chests as the very distorted anthem of the cloud corporation plays.

Static Air, presented by the Senior IMPACT team, was focused around a group of workers at a cloud-factory, working on and on day after day until they discover an abandoned radio shack, and start up their very own (makeshift) radio show, in an effort to generate hope for the rain-starved populace. The radio shack, filled with side conversations, energy and joyfulness, was quite contrasted by the slow, weary movement of the factory, with each ‘day’ of the play ending with a loud horn call and the burdened changing of the ‘DAYS UNTIL RAIN’ sign. The Attenuators, bodiless voices serving as the cloud factory’s managers, also provided an autocratic theme to the whole cloud factory. I quite enjoyed it - I certainly can understand creating an autocratic dictatorship just for the chance to have more rain.

Every now and then, the Director would chime in with a message, though it was increasingly suggested that perhaps the Director wasn’t who he claimed he was. This was never fulfilled, though, and I am quite sad that I never got to find out about what this pre-recorded message fully contained. I’m perfectly happy with the music the team used to interrupt the Director’s messages, which were very fitting with the dystopian theme of the cloud factory.

Overall, Static Air was a quite enjoyable play about drought and radio shacks and overburdening managers, though there were a handful of points that I would’ve loved to see - like, what sort of uniforms do the Attenuators wear? I want to see giant trench coats!

Out of all the shows I have had the opportunity to review at The Empire Theatre this season, Shack is my all-time favourite so far. 

The plot of Shack is about nine school friends that are separated from their parents in a blizzard. They end up finding themselves in an abandoned shack which, thankfully, contains quite a few useful tools.

There were several moments throughout the show’s narrative where one of the characters would make a mistake or do something the group had not agreed on. However, they always figured it out and found a solution by discussing the situation with a friend.

I would say the moral of the story is about the importance of getting along with peers in difficult situations, whether or not the circumstances are ‘life threatening’ or just working at a school project. 

I actually auditioned to appear in this show but I was not selected. Therefore, to see actors my age perform in this show and do such a splendid job was really inspiring and motivates me to keep working at my own acting skills.

The actors demonstrated great skill and were superb at performing in sync with the sound effects and lights. There were so many things happening at once it was almost overwhelming for my senses.  

The use of props was very effective and incorporated so well into the show. The set was super cool and a feast for the eyes.

My favourite aspect of the whole play was the character of Rufus, the comedic relief character, who would make funny jokes or comments to lighten the mood. He made the whole audience laugh without fail every time. He was a well written character and performed brilliantly. 

Shack is an outstanding play. It has lots of heart while also containing plenty of laughs. I would definitely recommend it for audiences of all ages.