Regrowth Youth Theatre Project
The Regrowth Youth Theatre Project was funded by the NSW Government and the Commonwealth Government via Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund (BLERF). This funding was targeted at supporting the recovery of bushfire impacted communities through a range of funding programs.
Regrowth is a ‘site specific’, performing arts program for young people aged 10-17 years. The program was developed to facilitate healing, recovery and personal growth for young people following the bushfire crisis and the pandemic.
The Regrowth project offered a series of theatre skills and performance workshops which were held in five locations from Eden to Batemans Bay. The workshops were held in community spaces and aimed to offer young people the opportunity to devise and create theatre from their own stories and shared experiences. The workshops were developed and facilitated by Bontom, a creative and experienced team of young professional artists, who specialise in site specific theatre.
To capture the journey of the participants as they moved through and engage with the theatre making process, the Regrowth project also included the production of a feature length documentary. Additionally, there was also opportunities for work experience in film-making, production and community development, which, participants were able to add to their CV for future opportunities.
Throughout their involvement in Regrowth, participants were supported by facilitators from Bontom theatre company and an experienced team of trauma informed & skilled professionals from The Family Place and Campbell Page. The project offered opportunities and experience for young people who, in the future, may consider a career in the community sector, film making or the performing arts.
Regrowth offered a safe space where young people could connect with their peers, create stories through their shared experiences and perform their creations at sites that have significance for their communities. The project culminated in June of 2023 with a community celebration and screening of the documentary, by film-maker Ruby Mitchell, for the wider community at Narooma Kinema with exceptional outcomes and feedback.
The Family Place has built on the success of ReGrowth to continue offering these opportunities young people in the Eurobodalla & Bega Valley with our current project, Kindred Kollective. This project is funded by the NSW Government and offers workshops in theatre and performance skills and film-making as well as opportunities across mentoring, internships and work experience for young people aged 12 – 24.
You can stay up to date or register interest in our new project by following the link below or checking our Kindred Kollective page (available soon) on our website. Workshop locations and venues will be released via our Facebook page.
Kindred Kollective
Creative arts opportunities & workshops in the Eurobodalla & Bega Valley.
"This is a Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund project through the joint Commonwealth/State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.“
“Although funding for this product has been provided by both the Australian and NSW Governments, the material contained herein does not necessarily represent the views of either government.”