Youth Arts

Sandsong performed by Bangarra Dance Theatre tells the stories from the Great Sandy Desert and the traditional custodians of the land. The show was a beautiful display of culture throughout time, displayed through dance and the voices of people.

Sandsong explores the trauma of colonisation in Australia and the lost of culture through that. The audience follows many nameless characters experiencing this hardship over an unknown amount of time. However, by the end there is hope of reconciliation and the people finding their country again, finding who they always have been.

The creativity and talent of the creators was on full display during the performance, completely transforming the stage into the many places that this story lives in, inviting the audience to look deeper into the world of Sandsong.

The Boy from Oz was an outstanding experience that I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to attend. The performance was a monument to what dedication and hard work looks like on stage. Prior to the show, it looked like an assault of lights, glittery shirts and disco balls to me; however, I will happily say that I was proven wrong and that I was blown out of the water. The show was not only entertaining, hilarious, and emotional but it also felt personal. The way storytelling was enveloped in the show made me feel so much more involved as an audience member. Breaks between the action for small moments of discussion made me much more captivated by the story of the extravagant life of Peter Allen. The actors did an outstanding job at capturing that extravagance and projecting it onto their audience. This production of The Boy from Oz is unbelievable, between love and loss, highs and lows, and a compelling queer narrative that brought tears to my eyes, is where true dedication and talent were extremely clear to see. I had zero connection to the story before attending the show, Peter Allen had arrived and passed miles before I was even born but the show pushed straight passed that and had me hoping and caring for the characters on stage. Soon after I was just wishing I knew the words to Rio as the rest of the audience was cheering on about it all night long. 

I felt engaged as an Australian, I felt spoken to as a queer man, and I felt honored as a young individual to have been invited to such an extraordinary and enjoyable experience; to see a riveting story told by an ensemble of actors and musicians who made it clear and easy to see the blood, sweat and tears they put into their work. Along with a production team who understood how to demand focus and compel a story without the need to spell it out for me. The combination of meaningful symbolism, amazing stagecraft, fun – although it looked tiring – choreography, and lights brought the entire per

Half-concert and half-musical, this tribute to Peter Allen has all the aspects of unique show. From all the moments of audience interaction, it gives the show a feeling of stand up comedy. The Boy From Oz delivers all the show's top moments of Peter Allen's life from dancing in a local pub to dancing with the Rockettes in New York City.
The Boy From Oz delivers with an amazing set and fabulous actors - Justin Tamblyn was a perfect Peter Allen and this show was hilarious and yet also successfully showcased the sadness throughout Peter's life.
It left the audience on their feet and it showcased Peter Allen's life wonderfully.

A single glowing eye is visible beneath the clockwork beast’s brow. It rises from its abode, puffing out it’s chest of machinery and pistons. It looks like it should be in some steampunk movie, yet here it is, in Black Sun / Blood Moon.

I’m not quite sure what I was expecting it to be when I entered the theatre – perhaps some sort of samurai space thing? Lovecraftian horror? It could’ve even been a western for all I knew (I just rewatched Firefly, I was in the mood for space westerns). What I was not expecting, as I entered the theatre, craving for Maltesers, was a pale orb, resting within some sort of.. well, something. I was not expecting a rocking chair, the likes you’d see next to some old British fireplace, a pile of books laying next to it. I was not expecting the play to be about climate change.

I was not expecting it to be so fantastic. The contrast between magical eagles soaring through the sky and magical lawyers soaring through hordes of paperwork and court documents only serves to highlight what I believe the play is trying to say – that while we may not have access to deus ex machina seeds and dolphins clad in plastic shrouds, we can do as Maddy, a regular young person from Wagga Wagga, does – stage rallies, protests, walks with the local community, all in order to fix the mistake humans have wrought.

It has a certain inspiration for the members of the human genome, such as that I prefer the ‘real’ storyline over the ‘magic’ storyline, though you can’t really separate them just like that.

So, with that said, (though I did not say much), so long, Black Sun / Blood Moon, and thanks for all the fish.

Black Sun/ Blood Moon, written by Chris Bendall is a call to climate action, a glance into a future that could be ours. “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.” By Dr. Seuss is a quote referenced throughout the play, with the character of Maddy being the one to enforce it. The play has two main storylines, one whimsical and fantastical, and the other rooted in the reality our society finds ourselves in. The magical storyline follows Katie, who was once a member of the neglectful government, until she is found by Tino, a man destined to find her and enlighten her of the horrors of the climate crisis. She learns that her future daughter found enchanted seeds from another planet that could save earth if planted in the correct places. With some understandable hesitation, Katie chooses to believe what she’s been told and starts her quest to save the planet.

Meanwhile, Maddy’s story is rooted in reality and shows the struggle of activism in time of covid, as Maddy finds it difficult to find members to her cause at the start, leading to her getting in a lot of trouble with the law. After being bailed from a youth detention centre she faces court but is given a shot to change the world when her lawyer suggests suing the government for its negligence.

Black Sun/ Blood Moon by Chris Bendall is a beautiful play that understands a younger generation’s perspective on climate change and a reality that could be ours, if we made change happen. It’s an amazing piece of work, utilising puppetry, and visual theatre as well as mastering in creating connection with an audience, enforcing the idea that as an audience, we are in change of what happens to our planet, our home.

I hadn’t read the David Walliams Book Mr Stink before I watched this performance but I was so excited to see it at the Empire Theatre. I have seen a few things there and loved them all.

The characters were all so different. I thought the actors portrayed the parts really well. I love to write and the main character, Chloe, was a fantasy writer. That really made me feel connected to her.

The special sound effects that they used for when Mr Stink burped and farted were great. The smoke machine effect to show the stink coming off him worked really well too.  When Mr Stink told his life story, he sounded so sentimental and emotional. I really loved that part, because it connected to me, because I am very sentimental and emotional too. How they made Duchess the dog move was well done, and Mr Stink was a like a dog whisperer. I also liked the effect of her barking when they put in the sound. It sounded just like a real dog. 

The Mum was very snooty and I wouldn't want her to be my Mum because she sounded so stuck up in her own silly little life that she wouldn't even care about me. Raj the Indian man made me laugh. I especially liked the Bollywood dance and the Mum looked so unimpressed - cringe. The Dad was so scared of the Mum. He hid under the stairs and in a flowerpot whenever she was near. Ha ha. The sister is exactly like the mum.

I really didn't like the prime minister because he was so attached to what his people thought rather than doing a good job. Eventually Mum realised that there is nothing more important than family which was a really good message. I thought that the bully at school was a classic situation and she deserved to be burped in the face by Mr Stink. The revenge made me feel good. 

I felt different emotions towards different characters. For the main character, Chloe I felt inspired, because she's just like me, and I hope that like her I can stand up to a bully and write great stories.  The mum made me feel angry because she was so self-centred and I just wanted to give her what she deserved. Raj made me laugh, feel happy and want to do Bollywood dancing. Mr Stink made me feel compassion towards homeless people and want to help them.

I connected with the references to things I know like Harry Potter, TikTok, Insta, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Floss Dance! The 1 hr length of the performance was a good time. I think it was aimed at 5 to 12 year olds but my Mum laughed and enjoyed it too. 

I thought that the production was really professional, it was slick and clean. Overall I loved it. Five star rating and that’s me over and out!

The play Mr Stink by Roald Dahl is a performance you are sure to enjoy. It is full of many humorous moments. 

I was really impressed by the modern day pop culture references to celebrities like the Kardashians and songs like “It’s About Damn Time” by Lizzo. 

Mr Stink reminded me of why it’s important to not be rude to people who are less fortunate than yourself. You can never be sure what someone’s story is or how they ended up in their situation. 

My favourite moment that made me laugh was when Raj did his little Bollywood dance. I thought it was technically clever how they pulled at the foldable backdrop to switch between scenes. 

I also thought it was cool how smoke came out of Mr Stink’s clothes to give off more of the effect that he really stank. 

If there had been more time available, I would have liked to see the relationship between Chloe and the Bully explored in more depth. 

Before seeing Mr Stink I expected the play to be aimed at younger kids and have simple jokes. It totally exceeded my expectations and I ended up really enjoying it and relating to it a lot. 

Overall, I felt it was a really good play and a pleasant surprise to experience something that was far better than what I anticipated.

Prima Facie was incredibly well acted and produced. The opening sequence was hilarious, it was a blast to watch learn as Tess jumped around wrapping the court system around her finger. It lulled me into a false sense of security because I blinked and SNAP! A tone switch that I felt in my chest. A combination of compelling in-depth and shocking storytelling and a moving genuine emotional performance. I felt uncomfortable in my chair, my mouth was dry, and I was awkwardly sipping water every ten seconds. Sheridan Harbridge’s performance was so realistic and powerful – a word I heard used by two separate groups of audience members – I had no idea how to feel.

I had no clue what that whole aspect of society looked like, I’m blind to the inner workings of the legal system and to have it laid out in front of me exposed as an abusive, manipulative, and unfair wreck sent chills up and down my spine. I am honoured to be able to experience the product of Sheridan’s dedication. After 173 performances of the same show, I would expect an energy-less chore for both the audience and the actors, but God no! I saw true dedication and talent, it is clear to see with the show after show passing everybody involved put blood, sweat and tears into making an unforgettable experience. To think I almost missed it, I was lucky enough to catch the finale of this outstanding testament to what theatre can share and achieve. The only words I have left for Sheridan and the production team is BRAVO!!

Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie is a piece of theatre that is dedicated to telling a story, with no detail left out. A play that makes sure not to sugar coat its content, not even for a moment. Miller’s play follows Tessa, a talented criminal defence barrister whose life and subsequently career is completely changed after she is sexually assaulted by her co-worker.

The story of Tessa is heart-wrenching, but one of power in utter darkness. As the audience is being guided through the story it becomes less of an audience watching a performer, and a jury watching a caught case. As viewers to Tessa’s story, we see her be absolutely shattered by her experience and slowly piece herself back together to a place where she can speak up against the torment, although we never see her fully heal, highlighting how long the process of healing truly is.

“I am broken, but I will not be silenced.”

A truly beautiful show that was made by some incredibly gifted and talented people.

From all people who have experienced this kind of hardship to any extent, they thank everyone involved.

The show Are we there yet is a thoroughly enjoyable play and I definitely recommend it as one to watch.  

Its target audience is primarily children under the age of 13, but there are references and jokes that older audiences will enjoy too.

The plot is about a family of five (three children and two parents) that skip a term of school to travel all around Australia in a giant circle.

There are multiple ups and downs on the journey, like when the car breaks down.

However, as a result of the whole experience each family member ends up learning a lesson about bonding with one another and they end up discovering that they had all been changed for the better by spending so much together. 

Watching the play made me think about how things can be challenging when being stuck with no one but your family, cramped in a small space for long periods of time - and yet throughout the experience, it develops into becoming a great time.

In terms of the play’s staging, I enjoyed how the lighting played a big role in establishing each scene. For example, when the family were near water the lights looked like water patterns. When they were in a forest there were crowded tree patterns.

I thought it was clever how the three characters switched to play multiple other characters in the play, although my preference would still be for there to be more actors playing individual roles or have more characters in the story. I know that’s how the writer, director and performers intended it, but I feel I would have enjoyed the play more with a greater variety of actors and roles.

My favourite moment in the play was the scene involving the younger cousin because I could personally relate to the chaos of little children running around all over the place and it made me laugh a lot.

I also thought it was really impressive when the map of Australia popped up and lights came on outlining where the family had travelled throughout the term.

All in all, the show was truly enjoyable and I would definitely recommend that any child check it out.

I really loved how the main character played her role as Grace. I also liked how their family had that normal family dynamic, which I can relate to rather than seeming perfect. I loved how special effects were used when they were in lakes and on ferries for the water. It was really cool to see how long it took them to travel around Australia. Obviously it wouldn't take such a little amount of time in real life, but it was still a very interesting story and concept. 

I have not yet come across the book and would love to read it because I felt connected to the whole stage production and found myself interested in the theoretical component! Not only that but I want to compare the production and the book to each other. When they were in Darwin, I really liked how they used the floaty's on wheels to make us recognise that they were in the water. I also really liked that when they were touring places, they would stop and tell you what each place was as it was very informative. I loved how there were references to funny things like how the dad peed his pants! 

After I watched the production I felt like I needed to go on my own adventures! I think younger audiences would like it because it has more references to funny things they would understand such as being so scared you pee yourself. I think younger audiences would enjoy seeing their story book come to life on stage with very talented actors. I enjoyed how the actors would clearly describe the animals or things that were happening around them in order for younger audiences to engage. I really liked how Grace described the Mum after the trip and the rest of her family as they had changed from being so uptight to being more relaxed and jolly. Their family had become more connected. 

Overall, the production and crew were fabulous. Their performance was so outstanding and engaging. I would highly recommend it to younger audiences and families!

The show Possum Magic, adapted from the book of the same name authored by Mem Fox, is a stunning translation from page to stage.

I was very much looking forward to seeing this play as I had read the book many times when I was younger, and it still sits on our family’s bookshelves to be read by my younger siblings.

It was really quite touching to see this familiar and beloved story acted out in front of me.

For those who have not read the book and are unfamiliar with the plot of Possum Magic, the story is about a young possum named Hush and a Grandma possum who travel across Australia. Grandma feeds Hush ‘people food’ to try and make her visible again.

The stage show is impressive in so many ways. Firstly, the play succeeds in bringing to life the non-stop fun that has made the book loved by so many children for generations.

Secondly, the play introduces its own unique flavour to the story in telling the Possum Magic story on stage. The large props are a sight to behold. The shadows play a very significant role by helping to play some of the characters.

The costume changes were carried out very effectively and creatively. For example, it was clever how when Hush was invisible her fur was grey, and when she wasn’t she was brown. I was amazed by how quick and seamless she could change.

It was a joy to observe the four principal cast members performing an engaging story while also carrying out these spectacular visual effects with minimal struggle.

I was also impressed with how the creators of the show emphasised the fact that the possums were small by making oversized props so that items that for us humans would be small were presented as large for possums.

The telling of the story on stage was constantly engaging. My eyes were glued to the stage due to the performances, the props and special visual effects.

I really enjoyed the show a lot. The visual effects they incorporate are terrific. I believe audience members of any age will enjoy this wonderful show, and I would recommend this as a must-see for younger children.

Possum Magic was entertaining in many ways, but I think that it could be aimed at younger audiences between the ages of 4-7. I loved all of the special effects that were used on stage, especially the smoke when Grandma Poss was performing spells and the magic spell book turning the pages over by itself. I think that it was especially inclusive to have an Auslan interpreter just incase there were audience members with a hearing impairment. 

I really liked how there was a map of Australia between each scene and Grandma Poss and Hush were travelling around it as the show progressed. Once they stopped at a certain location, it would show the sign of the place, such as Brisbane or Darwin. This made it easier to track where we were up to in the story. I loved the funny references to modern trends such as 'flossing'. There were also funny parts in the story that I think younger audiences could relate to, such as Hush's messy eating and burping. 

Overall, it was a wonderful performance and I would recommend it to young children as I mentioned earlier. It made me hungry for a piece of pavlova, a Vegemite sandwich and a scone! 

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.

I thought the characters really suited their roles and were really humorous and entertaining. Lots of the humorous bits were relatable, such as the references to Snapchat. I particularly enjoyed the part when they did not have any toilet tins left so that had to use their water bottles. I love the sound effects and how all the actors had good character confidence. My favourite sound effect was when the dark force was close to the shack. It set the mood really well and got you on the edge of your seat. 

I loved all of the props as they made it more realistic, and I also loved how the actors use the props to engage the audience. It inspired me to keep practicing my performance skills so that I could be in a production like that. If I was a character, I would have definitely played Samson. She had many funny lines, and she also lightened the mood. 

I really like the lighting too, especially when each character took turns at reading the diary of the famous explorer. I can appreciate that a lot of time and effort has been put into this performance and it was an excellent result. Overall, I think Shack should be aimed at audiences similar to my age (12) because we are more engaged with the lighting and sound effects than younger audience.

Overall, I really enjoyed this performance. I give it a 10 out of 10 and totally recommend it!

The grand piano’s hood kicked open – two hands grasped onto the rim of the lid. A woman climbs out, wincing and gasping with pain – her ankle looked broken, considering she was avoiding putting her weight on it. She falls to the ground, leaning against her musical oubliette. The theatre is silent as she stumbles off. THEN A JESTER WALKS ON.

Bell Shakespeare’s performance of Twelfth Night was hilarious, confusing, and worrisome all at the same time. There’s a shirtless jester on a scooter, ranting off in some Shakespearean verse that could’ve been German for all I understood it – there’s a pageboy (or, rather, pagegirl) who for some inexplicable reason is the love interest of a Countess, and yes, there’s a poor head maid stuck in a piano and forced to withstand all the vibrating strings.

The tonal shifts between every scene probably gave me whiplash, yet the contrast between the dark, depressing moments and the glorious visage of the Jester, made me think even more about what the scene was actually trying to tell me, rather then just laughing it off or becoming sad and ignoring the rest of the play. Unfortunately, I could not tell what in the world the characters were saying, as I surprisingly don’t speak Middle English, but the hilarious costumes (airhostess uniforms, rich tropical outfits, a Jester costume that looked straight from the Elizabethan period) and the wonderful acting (once again, the Jester is all I have to point towards) more then made up for any words I did not understand.

I have to say, the Jester was the best character in it, and no one can disagree with me without watching the play itself, which will inevitably convert them to the Jester’s side.

Twelfth Night was quite enjoyable, quite confusing, and quite hilarious. Fare thee well, you baron rascals, and don’t get mistaken with your twin sister – it leads to some confusing situations.

I went into Twelfth Night knowing nothing besides the movie She's The Man. I'd done a few scenes in drama classes but other then that I knew nothing. I left amazed as the Bell Shakespeare company's version was hilarious and still quite sad at parts. The costumes were beautiful and even though I barley understand Shakespearean language I knew when it was funny solely through the actors alone. The sets as well were so gorgeous It was an amazing, hilarious and aesthetically beautiful show and I wish I could see it again and again.

When I got the opportunity to go watch The Sunshine Club I could not have had a better time. The performance was flat out delightful. With an incredibly talented cast that could preform some of the most distinct characterisations I’ve ever seen, and sing with the voices of angels, the performance perfectly expressed a clear, in-depth and enjoyable piece of storytelling that even somebody as dense as me can understand a sympathise with. Seeing this play was not a night wasted to say the least, I had a blast. I’ve got nothing but respect for what is clearly a hardworking, talented, and passionate cast! Even the musicians got in on the jokes from time to time. Now I’m not very connected to a whole lot of the plays themes; however, every aspect of the outstanding performance ties it all together and paints a picture that helps me to feel less alien to it all. Now that is pretty damn hard to achieve and it’s pretty rare to experience.

First Nations people have been storytellers before the word storyteller existed in English. They are the first people to live in Australia. And their stories have never died, they have been kept alive for thousands and thousands of generations. The Sunshine Club is such a perfect example of this. An emotionally driven performance the Sunshine clubs plot was so heart wrenchingly real that I could do nothing but think of how it was slotting in to this current society. The Sunshine Club is a necessary voice and story especially in this year's political climate. To have a show about First Nations people performed at our very own Empire Theatre was perfect timing. The story was beautifully heart-warming and shows that a little determination and motivation can change the world, or even your small town. Storytelling keeps legacy alive.

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!

IMPACT 2023’s performance STATIC AIR was an absolute blast to go and watch! The show had a perfect mix of a fun chuckles and some in-depth meaningful story telling, that’s not even mentioning the amount of talent and hard work that went together to put on such a spectacle. Seeing such a fun and bubbly group of young actors being able to put their heads together to formulate, write and perform an enjoyable and hard hitting piece of art is just amazing. Don’t even get me started of the message behind it all, the idea of ‘being heard,’ while a show about a forbidden radio station might be a bit on the nose, is an interesting topic to tackle. I loved it so much because exploring the idea of being heard through the lens of young people, who can often be some of our least listened to geniuses, gives a bit of a refreshment and a reinvention to what is one of the most common and repetitive themes. I think I’m blabbering on now so I’ll get to the point. STATIC AIR, and the amazing team behind it, both on stage and behind the scenes, took an old stale idea and through hard work and vulnerable story telling, created something new and beautiful. As an audience member I had so much fun I had to go back and watch it a second time, and as a past IMPACTER, I could not have been more proud of the work this years ensemble have put out!

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.