Year 9 student, Harrison Edgar, recently travelled to Melbourne to take part in Young Artists Week, an intensive drama workshop hosted by Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC).
Nominated by their teacher, Harrison was selected to participate in the program alongside students from other schools across Victoria. The week provided an opportunity to develop acting skills, explore different aspects of theatre and connect with other young people who share a passion for performing arts.
Throughout the week, participants took part in a range of activities to create an original performance centred on the theme of work. They also had the opportunity to learn from theatre professionals, including a fight choreographer who demonstrated techniques for staging simulated punches and slaps, and a costume designer who shared examples of their costume and set work.
For Harrison, one of the most memorable aspects of the experience was how well the group connected. Being surrounded by like-minded young artists helped reinforce their passion for acting and showed them the value of working alongside others with a shared interest in performance.
One particularly surprising takeaway was how quickly the group developed a show in just one week. The experience highlighted the creative possibilities that can emerge when people have the time and opportunity to focus, collaborate and bring their ideas to life.
Reflecting on the week, Harrison described feeling honoured to have been selected and said the experience had helped them grow as a young performing artist. Meeting others with an equally strong passion for acting also helped them recognise that performing arts offered opportunities to explore beyond their experiences at school.
For students who may be nominated in the future, Harrison encourages them to try their best, be open to meeting others and embrace the opportunity to learn alongside young artists who are all there to develop their skills.
Young Artists Week was a valuable opportunity for Harrison to deepen their interest in acting, discover more about the world of theatre and gain fresh inspiration for their development as a young artist.