Regional teen angst to feature on stage
IF you’re keen to find out how to set your mind to midnight, make sure you’re at the curtain raising when the Black Box Creatives youth theatre company embark on their next stage play, ‘Midnight Mindsets’.
The show premieres at the Western Plains Cultural Centre’s Black Box Theatre early next month, and is one of the first in this region to be created entirely locally – from scratch – by Dubbo youth.
Each year the company provides a platform for young theatre-makers to explore, create and share stories relevant to their local community, and Midnight Mindsets features 18 of the group’s junior and senior performers, with direction from Shanae Gosper and Danielle Andrews.
Co-writer Andy Carolan says the show is a sneak peek into the high-intensity and emotionally-charged lives of regional Australian teens.
“Teenage years are where little lives suddenly face big decisions, kids are thrown into adulthood, whether they like it or not, and I think the hardest part can be knowing who to listen to,” Mr Carolan said.
“There’s new friends, old friends, parents, siblings, teachers – often all with differing views and expectations.”
Mr Carolan says the play aims to improve awareness of the tough times faced by adolescents as they’re fast-tracked to adulthood, something teens understand only too well, but which adults have often forgotten as the years pass by.
“Psychologically, transitioning from child to adult can be a real pressure cooker, which too often leads to poor decision-making and regret,” Mr Carolan said.
“Through our production of Midnight Mindsets, the Black Box Creatives aim to generate some discussion and consideration for the ways that we interact with adolescents.”
The one hour stage play is set at a New Year’s Eve carnival in a regional Australian city and as the clock counts down to midnight on a dusty summer night, five groups of Australian youth are faced with making sudden decisions that could significantly shape their future.
Is it a case of fight or flight?
The lights are low and emotions are high as vulnerable hearts and minds attempt to manage overwhelming feelings of love, loss, acceptance and revenge.
To know what they stand for, these young Aussie kids must first discover who they are.
Midnight Mindsets is suitable for all ages and will be performed from November 6 until November 9.
For performance times and tickets, visit www. westernplainsculturalcentre.org/spotlight or contact the Western Plains Cultural Centre on 02 6801 4444.
AS a thank you to seniors, the annual NSW Government-sponsored, free seniors Christmas concert will be held in Dubbo in November.
Award winning Australian country singer Darren Coggan, operatic tenor Lorenzo Rositano and show business legend Rhonda Burchmore (pictured) are confirmed in the line-up of performers.
Tickets are free and only offered to seniors aged 60 years and over.
“Seniors give so much to the community and these concerts are a way of showing our appreciation for their contributions,” Acting Minister for Seniors Geoff Lee said.
“The concerts are a great opportunity for seniors in Dubbo to celebrate the festive season, make new friends and singalong to some of their favourite tunes.”
The Dubbo concerts will be held at the Regional Theatre on Tuesday, November 26, at 10.30am and 2pm.
To book, visit: www.seniorsfestival.nsw.gov.au/events/ christmas-concerts