I’m Me Festival of drama and ideas
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The Canberra Youth Theatre promises a thought-provoking twilight festival of performance.
If you love live theatre but can’t choose between your favourite genre of performance, poetry, dance or immersive experiences, then Canberra Youth Theatre’s I’m Me Festival has you sorted.
A team of dedicated young performers from across the city – aged between 7-12 – are performing a series of varied dramatic works between 5 pm and 9 pm at the twilight festival on Friday 5 April.
Directed by an all-female team of Anna Here, Claire Granata, Tracy Bourne, Casey Elder, Stefanie Lekkas and Errenn Ball, the festival will debut seven new original works which cover a range of issues close to the hears and forefront in the minds of the dedicated young performers.
All works fall under the broad theme of Existence – past, present and future.
Anna’s group will present “young people’s thoughts and feelings about climate change, using the plight of bees to help share these ideas. Climate change feels particularly topical this year and has always been a part of this generation’s existence.”
Claire’s group will be asking the audience to examine its own understanding of “what it means to be ‘grown-up’, shifting the power balance between child and adult through some hard-line questioning. Get ready for your next existential crisis.”
Tracey’s group imagines the moment our early ancestors – fish – took a breath of air and left the ocean behind. “We explore the ways this first step changed our fishy bodies into human ones, and imagine how our bodies might adapt in the future as we face a hotter, drier climate.”
Casey’s considers what sort of a planet young people will inherit. “Our piece is about the hopes and fears we have for them and they have for themselves.”
Stefanie’s piece considers languages and whether “we behave differently; think differently; feel different when speaking different languages? And how can we exist in harmony with others that don’t speak our language?”
Finally, Errenn’s group considers the benefits of existing in the present moment and not dwelling on the past and the future. “The audience will be immersed in an environment where they can experience the difference of mindlessly going through day to day life contrasted with being mindful.”
The directors agreed that working with this age group was professionally rewarding and the performances would enlighten the audience.
According to Anna “this group has wild ideas that are brave and reckless. You arrive with ideas as a director and then you throw them out because theirs are way better.”
According to Claire, “young people often see and understand things in very unique ways to adults. Gaining their perspectives on everyday phenomena is so refreshing, surprising and ultimately inspiring.”
Stefanie said she loved giving her young team space to have their voices heard and the Canberra Youth Theatre placed those voices and opinions front and centre.
Meanwhile, the Festival promises a great night out for the entire family.
Fellow Gorman House residents QL2 Dance will feature throughout the night while the festival atmosphere will be enhanced by street food delivered from the Pizza Trailer and Le Petite Breton Crepes.
the essentials
What: Canberra Youth Theatre’s I’m Me Festival
When: Friday 5 April 5 pm – 9 pm
Where: Gorman Arts Centre, Braddon
Tickets $15
Website: cytc.net
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