News

Some questions to get you thinking

  1. What does a ‘fair go” mean to you? 
  2. Are the values of a ‘fair go’ fundamental to being Australian? 
  3. Do you promote the principles of a ‘fair go’ in your work or in your relationships with other people? 

These questions are pivotal to the foundations of Digi Youth Theatre and the people that are part of it.  For Kate Zahnleiter, Head of Script Development for Digi Youth, a “fair go” means ensuring equality for all young people in Australia. She believes it means “a student not missing out on an opportunity simply because their background, location or personal circumstances doesn’t allow for it”. 

Kate’s words are echoed in the mission statement of the Fair Go Australia Foundation, Digi Youth’s biggest financial supporter in 2013. The Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that values equality and seeks to bridge the gap between privileged and underprivileged children in Australia. 

The creators of Digi Youth forged a strong relationship with the Fair Go Foundation many years ago through collaboration, assisting with events and supporting early projects like the Amazing Race Brisbane and Touch Football Championships in Brisbane. Their projects encourage reconciliation, interaction and personal growth and development for underprivileged children.   These admirable principles are fundamental to us as Australians and have helped Digi Youth dream big and aim high.  Through the Foundation’s support we have been able to secure the Powerhouse as our performance space,  and we thank the foundation every day for giving us a ‘fair go’. 

Finally, some words of wisdom from a man who promotes the principles of a ‘fair go’ in his work and relationships with other people every day; the Managing Director of Fair Go Australia, John Godwin. 

“The first step in giving someone a ‘fair go’ is that they need to be given a voice.  They need to have a chance to explain their perspective and share their experiences and understandings.  Once we have a voice, we can be heard, we can feel included we can connect to others and build our community.”  

On why he is such a strong supporter of Digi Youth, he explained; “Digi Youth provides young men and women with a voice.  It provides them with the chance to express their feelings, experiences and perceptions for the world to getter a better understanding of them and how we can connect and improve their lives.”

Thank you Fair Go Australia. 

By Eleanor Falkiner

Picture from Fair Go Australia Cup 2012

Picture from Fair Go Australia Cup 2012

Electric Feel

The first ever Digi Youth Theatre production will be held at Powerhouse Brisbane on Thursday 13th June. As a heritage listed, not-for-profit venue with passionate and friendly people working there, Digi Youth Theatre has found a supportive, creative backdrop to what is going to be an empowering show for indigenous youth. Read more to find out what turns us on about the venue and what it means for us to perform in this electric space. 

Watts it all about?

The idea for Digi Youth Theatre came about when Alethea attended the 2010 performance of ‘Advanced Screening’ by Markwell Presents. “My mentor and dear friend Susie Lawson has a strong connection with the cinematic theatre company and I had the privilege of being a part of one of their productions at Villanova College.  Steve and Brad (Markwell Presents) share the stories of young people in innovative, meaningful and accessible ways and I was inspired to by their vision. “

From these inspired beginnings, we’re now getting stuck in, spreading the word and talking to the community about their experiences moving away from country to get an education in Brisbane. We’re plugging the amps into our social media, our website and our indigenous and non-indigenous networks to produce a piece of theatre that will spark your plugs and help share the stories of indigenous boarding school students living in Brisbane.

 Why Brisbane Powerhouse?

Because it’s a shockingly good venue. And in the words of Alethea Beetson, Director and Producer of DYT, “Kids are great performers so they deserve a great facility to have their voice heard.”

Brisbane Powerhouse also has an important history in Brisbane. Originally a power station that supplied electricity to Brisbane suburbs and trams, it was then home to homeless people and graffiti artists who saw it as a refuge and something of a living canvas and finally taken over by Brisbane City Council. The Council has since transformed the space into a living, breathing, working artistic and cultural hub, with incredible performance rooms, some great tucker and a beautiful view of the Brisbane River.

The Lord Mayor of Brisbane Graham Quirk calls it “ A unique gathering place for our local community to come together and celebrate the arts” and if he digs it, we’re not going to argue with him. 

Power to the people

In much the same way as Brisbane Powerhouse used to generate electricity for the people of Brisbane, now it generates ideas, artistic practice and creativity for performers and audience alike. In our production we’ll be asking some tough questions and exploring themes of education, family, country, community and how indigenous kids from rural and isolated areas are living these experiences and challenges every day.

Thanks to the funding from Fair Go Australia the dream to present DYT13 at Brisbane Powerhouse became a reality for Digi Youth Theatre at the end of 2012. We look forward to seeing you there.