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The Empire Youth Arts Ensemble is Ready for IMPACT


​The Empire’s youngest artists have kicked off rehearsals for their original production, Our Egg Named Larry, to be performed from July 12-13.

IMPACT Junior 2024: Mataya Forster, Eliza Kinniburgh, Chelsea Rogers, Samantha Cheetham, Edward Pocknee, Majella Ford, Minea Tao. Absent: Joshua Walkington

Now in its 14th year, the audition-based elite performance program IMPACT sees a Junior Ensemble cast of eight aged 13-14, dive into the funny, heartwarming and at times ridiculous story of a group of students who are assigned to a project to keep a fragile egg named Larry in one piece.

An original theatre piece, Our Egg named Larry was written by The Empire Youth Arts Lead Grace Sankey and co-writer Sheldon Mcloughlin, with ensemble members to contribute to the script writing process, drawing on discoveries they make about their own characters as rehearsals continue.

“This year’s Junior Ensemble has a mixture of experience levels with some members who have done this program before and some who will be going on stage for the very first time,” Miss Sankey said.

I am so grateful to be in the rehearsal room with these amazing young people, creating something so uniquely special to them, celebrating who they are and what they are capable of.

Grace Sankey - The Empire Youth Arts Lead

“I am so grateful to be in the rehearsal room with these amazing young people, creating something so uniquely special to them, celebrating who they are and what they are capable of,” she said.  

“IMPACT is an incredibly unique offering to the young people in our community and this group are excited to share their ideas and thoughts as we work towards our performances in July.”

The IMPACT program continues with the 2024 Senior Ensemble soon to commence rehearsals. 

Tickets to Our Egg Named Larry are on sale now.

Photo: Mataya Forster, Eliza Kinniburgh, Chelsea Rogers, Samantha Cheetham, Edward Pocknee, Majella Ford, Minea Tao. Absent: Joshua Walkington

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Acknowledgement
of country

The Empire acknowledges the Traditional Custodians, the Giabal, Jarowair and Western Wakka Wakka peoples, where we work and present stories. We would like to pay respect to the Elders, past and present and to all First Nations peoples.

Artwork: We Are Yuree by Adrian Bauwens

Empire Theatre