Media Release

Wednesday, 14 October 2009

Community members are being urged to ensure they purchase their tickets now to avoid missing out on the 2009 Fairfax Festival Gala Performance evening to be held on Thursday, 29 October as part of Go North Arts Festival.

The event will see participation from regional schools across Victoria, including Swan Hill, Robinvale and Mildura and will enable students to unleash their creativity and imagination.

Swan Hill Rural City Council's Performing Arts Director Claire Glenn said the gala performance evening would be a chance to not only witness this creativity, but the skills and professionalism of its participants.

“The gala is not only exciting for the participants, it's also exciting for the audience because they get to see the incredible level of talent students have developed during the months of preparation with their teachers and with Festival Director Aimee Blesing,” Ms Glenn said.

“What's more, the students will be working with some amazing trainers during the three-day workshops in the lead up to the evening, including Don Bridges who has had extensive experience in television and movies, Olivia Allen who has taught and directed numerous theatre productions and freelance performer and teacher Andrew Grey who is part of a Melbourne-based improvisational troupe and co-artistic Director of Melbourne Playback Theatre Company.”

Ms Glenn said the three-person assessment panel for the event also included a wealth of experience, including Evelyn Krape, who has more than 30 years experience in theatre, former Fairfax Festival participant (2000) Bryan Davidson-Blue and Kaarin Fairfax, daughter of George Fairfax and who has starred in a number of films, made numerous television appearances and also directed stage musicals and theatre performances.

“It is absolutely terrific that we have such a selection of talent and experience for this festival and I would like to thank our trainers and assessment panel for bringing their extensive knowledge and experience to this festival for our students,” she said.

A number of prizes are also on offer to the participants, including a day trip to the Melbourne Theatre Company to tour their new venue, see a show and meet the cast or a visit to the Arts Centre to also do a tour and see a show as well as participate in a workshop.

“St Martins Youth Arts Centre has also donated a great prize for two lucky students to head to Melbourne to participate in a week-long acting short course and there are a number of other prizes for our participants, including a spot prize for the audience on the night,” Ms Glenn added.

“The Fairfax Festival isn't just about offering workshops in performance skills, it is also in technical skills such as lighting, set design, stage management, writing, media and journalism and equips students with these skills that will set them up for the future.

“The event also instills in students self confidence to be who they want to be and to make their dreams come true.”

The Fairfax Festival Gala Performance evening will take place on Thursday, 29 October at the Swan Hill Town Hall at 7pm – tickets to the event cost just $10, please call 5036 2444 for bookings.