Junior Ensemble Make Impact With Antarctic Tale of Survival
The 2023 Junior IMPACT Ensemble presented their annual production, Shack, by George Kemp from July 14-15.
The 2023 Junior IMPACT Ensemble took their audiences to Antarctica and back during their annual production of Shack, performed in the Armitage Centre from June 14-15.
Written by George Kemp and proudly presented by the Empire Theatres Foundation, Shack told the story of nine school kids aged 10-13, stranded in an old shack during a blizzard, while a sinister force circles outside.
As the limits of their courage are pushed into uncharted waters, these young explorers question the nature of power and the power of nature.
The story of Shack was inspired by real world explorer Ernest Shackleton’s incredible attempt to be the first person to cross the Antarctic. His ship become stuck in the ice and eventually sank, leaving his crew drifting and stranded in the most isolated place in the world for more than two years before they were rescued, and all brought to safety.
Shack Director, Nicky Haeusler said the ensemble had risen to the challenge of the material, displaying wit, resilience, and compassion in the rehearsal room.
“This age group are natural expert storytellers and Shack tells a story about young people who are the same age as them going through the same challenges and asking the same big questions,” she said.
“Across the past five months, the 2023 Junior IMPACT Ensemble worked incredibly hard to bring the story of Shack to life.
Their instincts for comedy, and for finding warmth and light in even the darkest and coldest of moments, are undeniably infectious and to say I’m proud of them doesn’t even start to chip the iceberg of how I feel about this ensemble’s courage, humour and kindness.
Nicky Haeusler - Director
Shack was proudly presented by the Empire Theatres Foundation and was the sixth Junior IMPACT production and 20th overall IMPACT production.
The Empire Youth Arts IMPACT program, featuring both a Junior and Senior Ensemble each year, is an audition based performance making program offering young artists the chance to tell their stories with the same level of quality and care as a professional production.
#What’s New
The Empire’s annual school holiday event, THRIVE Festival, has wrapped for 2026 with more than 5,200 people attending the four-day celebration of creativity, play and storytelling from September 24-27.
After starting the journey in Charleville, travelling through Augathella and Roma, a total of 1,472km before arriving at The Empire in Toowoomba, the inaugural Queensland Fringe has wrapped up with more than 4,350 people attending across a two-day hub of live entertainment from August 6-7.
The Empire's hit school holiday event, THRIVE Festival returns from September 24-27, this year taking audiences on an out-of-this-world intergalactic adventure celebrating the marvels of space.
As the award-winning Wynnum Fringe draws to a close on Sunday, the team are taking the show on the road for the first Queensland Fringe, kicking off in Charleville and making its way through Augathella and Roma before its final stop at The Empire in Toowoomba from August 6-7.
The Matilda Award-winning production, Your Song, is set to dazzle at The Empire on Wednesday 8 July, bringing together a star-studded cast, a talented group of local singers and the unforgettable music of Elton John for a one-night-only celebration
From outback skies to theatre stages and township main streets, Queensland Fringe is hitting the road for its inaugural year, bringing live music, comedy and cabaret to communities across regional Queensland.
