Cirrus@Austlit

'Claims that young people have been involved in processes of consultation, creative development or research are common in published scripts about young people living in regional Australia. The aim of the (usually adult) playwrights May be to amplify young voices, yet the unadulterated voices of young people themselves are rarely heard in these pages. What might they want from their involvement in these creative endeavours, and how might they view their roles as research participants?'  (Publication abstract)

'The Holidays are on holiday: 12-year-old Oliver has been pulled out of school for an unexpected road trip with his mum and dad, en route to grandad’s seaside shack. But grandad, an eccentric artist, is not there. In this unkempt place stuffed with memories, it seems that the Holidays - instead of getting away from it all - have taken a lot with them.'

Source: Queensland Theatre Company.

'This is a performance that knows it’s a performance. Collaboratively devised, drawing on verbatim, movement and music, Please be Seated tracks romantic relationships from reflections on the experience of elders, through childhood, into adolescence, then into the turbulent process of falling in and out of love: something that nobody can teach you how to do. It’s open-ended and messy. Lifelike. Like life. Take a seat. Let’s talk about love.' (Production summary)

'Combining monologue with blog, the spoken word with the social networking update, Duty Free explores the overseas adventures that fill some people’s ‘gap year’. The itinerary is not inclusive of a three act structure, a hero’s journey, or blinding and timely revelations where it all makes sense. Monologue-based, with interludes of music and movement, it’s a quiet, concentrated, intimate show that travels through identity formation in both lived and described experience. Off on a journey to find yourself? Bon Voyage. There you are.' (Production summary)

'The drama class is about to start, and that’s not the only thing that’s beginning. These young people love Drama. So does their teacher, but not quite as much as he loves himself. He throws scraps of scripts at them. Fragments of Australian Drama. They all face unusual characters, unfamiliar settings, and blurry motivations as they try to find themselves in the work. Before they can connect with the script they must connect with one another, but how can they possibly make their scene work when they’re so busy working the scene? Australian Drama playfully plays with the playing of plays.' (Production summary)

'What would you do if you were the only one in a deserted city? Where would you go, and what would you do?

The Empty City taps into a fantasy that many of us have had as children to be allowed to explore, unhindered, the ordinarily crowded environment of a shopping centre.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.