A unique program has given young performers the ultimate taste of professional theatre. Photos: The Protege Project.
A musical about an exceptional child will showcase some of our own most exceptional young stars, with Illawarra’s promising performers preparing to shine in The Protege Project’s latest production, Matilda Jr.
An intensive program which provides rare industry insight for up-and-coming musical theatre performers will see the next generation of triple threats take to the stage to perform a successful and beloved musical.
The performers, aged eight to 17, have been rehearsing the equivalent of three days a week for three weeks to put the show together, simulating the fast-paced and demanding environment seen in professional theatre.
“We auditioned the show in October last year and provided the cast with their scripts to learn independently before coming together in January for the rehearsal season,” The Dance Affinity director Teagan Huntsdale said.
The Protege Project is a junior musical theatre initiative by The Dance Affinity, designed to give elite young theatre performers a springboard into future training and professional pathways.
Successful auditionees not only experience the demand of professional timeframes and expectations but also are provided with comprehensive training in choreography, singing and acting, guided by industry professionals throughout the rehearsal period.
Teagan’s work with SoPopera Productions, which helps bridge the gap between community and professional theatre, helped spark the idea for the unique program, which proved its success and popularity at the start of last year with a performance of A Chorus Line.
“I knew we had incredible young talent here in Wollongong, and that a program like this would be the perfect opportunity for students of this calibre,” Teagan said.
Now a new cohort of students will tackle iconic and colourful characters as they star in the stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic tale, Matilda.
The 60-minute showcase will have a limited run of four shows only at the Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts Centre, with performances on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 January at 7 pm and Saturday shows at 2 and 6 pm. Tickets are now on sale, with some shows almost sold out.
For more details or to buy tickets visit the Protege Project website.
