Launched in 2010, Empire Youth Arts aims to enrich and empower the young people of the Toowoomba region. Providing a variety of regular drama workshops, holiday workshops and elite performance program opportunities, Empire Youth Arts is an invaluable program to the young people of the Toowoomba community and beyond.
Empire Youth Arts also provides a number of classes outside Toowoomba, including term long classes, workshops, masterclasses and educational support, working in Dalby, Lockyer Valley, the Somerset Region, Mitchell, Miles, Charleville, Pittsworth and Crows Nest in the past few years.
Empire Youth Arts: A 10 Year Overview
In 2020, a report was commissioned to accompany the 10 year anniversary of the Empire Youth Arts initiatives housed at the Empire Theatres. The report provides significant insight and validation of the impact of Empire Youth Arts initiatives on the lives of emerging young regional theatre artists.
The report found that Empire Theatres is setting the standard for regional investment that champions and induces new, transformative theatre practice for young people.
The research found that Empire Youth Arts has created a regional youth arts identity, an ensemble community, and a unique culture-led teaching model that is imbedded in industry practice and creates a legacy for both the community and the participants involved.
This legacy is shown to build wellbeing and resilience, transferrable skills and a lifelong creative lifeline in the participants.
Recommendations to come out of the report include considerations for continued partnering locally across sectors and nationally within the youth arts industry, internal and external evaluation to help develop and promote the value of EYA and publishing opportunities for EYA script assets and further research/articles regarding pedagogical practice.
The research was launched on Friday 15th October 2021 at the opening night of the 18th IMPACT ensemble production – Off With Your Head.
The report gives Empire Theatres a base of evidence proving what was known anecdotally. This research will drive strategic program development of Empire Youth Arts and assist in securing ongoing financial and community support.
This report was collaboratively researched and written by Ari Palani, Assoc. Professor Janet McDonald (USQ) and Jeanette Wedmaier.
Across the three days students will work tirelessly with our Facilitators to generate a unique performance from the ground up. Learning the techniques of creative development, actor training and performance skill, participants will create a work that is truly inspired by them. A fantastic way to kick off the creative year, participants will have hands-on industry experience by tackling this time-tight challenge!
When: 18-20 January
Ages: 10-14 yrs
10am-5pm with 1 hour lunch break each day
What to Bring: Participants are encouraged to bring a packed lunch and snacks, water bottle and wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
Presentation for family & Friends: A free final presentation for family and friends will be performed to showcase the skills explored across the workshop process.
18 Hour Play Project presentation 4.30pm January 20.
To book for this workshop, click here.
As per the latest QLD Government restrictions, from 17th December 2021 only fully vaccinated people will be able to attend the Empire Theatre until further notice.
Increased hygiene facilities and social distancing measures are in place including COVID safe seating in the auditoriums, contactless payment preferred, and extensive contact tracing policies required for all patrons.
We encourage and support the use of the COVID Safe App. For more information on the Empire Theatre COVID Safe operations please visit the COVID Safe page of our website.
