byron@byron
High school teacher
“BYT are an exceptional youth theatre company, this play was excellent and needs to be seen in all schools.”
Pop Up Playspace – Byron Bay
FUN FUN FUN!!!!! The wonderful POP UP PLAY Spaces (POPS) 13th, 20th, 22nd April at Railway Park with Byron Youth Theatre members Oberon Marriott, Brynn Davis-Hay and Honey Jade as well as Valley Lipcer, Gee Gee Griffindore and Simone O’Brien and awesome DJ Renee Simone. Loads of games and activities, so lovely to kids and adults out playing in the sunshine in Byron Town. Giant twister, chess, egg and spoon races, dance offs and many other games to enjoy!!
Student aged 16
“This performance has helped me understand how difficult it is for people to get out of DV situations and I’m glad it showed how to.”
Broken Public Performance
Quote from an audience member
Hi, I am just writing to tell you how amazing your young performers were today. I am a youth worker with Nortec Youth Services and was completely blown away by how confident, powerful and mind blowing the performers were. The young people I brought today really needed to see young people, their age, succeeding with difficult content in front of an audience of peers. And they did it with such grace. Please pass on my compliments to the performers and organisers for an awesome show.
Jen Stockdale
No One Way
No One Way, a production which focuses on the issues faced by LGBTIAQ+ youth was the next original theatre performance to be created by BYT in 2016. The community’s support for this production became apparent early on in the research and interview phase. So many wonderful LGBT+ community members came forward to share their experiences across a wide age range. The legendary 80’s DJ Stephen Allkins, now a Northern Rivers community member donated funds raised from one of his famous My House is Your House parties, which added to the Country Arts Support Program ( Regional Arts NSW) and Byron Council grant. This enabled BYT to create another stellar production which moved audience members to tears receiving standing ovations and overwhelming feedback.
From this production local young people and BYT members recognised a need for a social event for LGBT+ youth. Raani Jade Nichols and Lisa Apostolides secured a Byron Council Small Change grant as well as a Mental health Association NSW ( ACON sponsored) community grant and yet another donation from Stephen which enabled them to create the inaugural Northern Rivers FANCY FORMAL. Check out our events page for more details.
Northern NSW Youth Health Consultation – Ballina 2016
Further detail about the impact of mental health issues among young people is warranted as part of the NSW Youth Health Policy Consultation.
Mental health problems, alcohol use disorders and suicide and self-harm are the leading causes of burden of disease among young people in Australia.
American research has found that half of all anxiety, mood, impulse-control, and substance use disorders start by age 14 and three quarters by age 24.
Further detail about the impact of mental health issues among young people is warranted as part of the NSW Youth Health Policy Consultation.
Mental health problems, alcohol use disorders and suicide and self-harm are the leading causes of burden of disease among young people in Australia.
American research has found that half of all anxiety, mood, impulse-control, and substance use disorders start by age 14 and three quarters by age 24.
Further detail about the impact of mental health issues among young people is warranted as part of the NSW Youth Health Policy Consultation.
Mental health problems, alcohol use disorders and suicide and self-harm are the leading causes of burden of disease among young people in Australia.
American research has found that half of all anxiety, mood, impulse-control, and substance use disorders start by age 14 and three quarters by age 24.
Outspoken
Performers with disabilities find their voice in “OUTSPOKEN”
Byron Youth Theatre’s dynamic new production “Outspoken” will soon showcase the talents of six young people with disabilities in an innovative performance that explores themes of inclusion, belonging and identity.
Timed to coincide with Social Inclusion Week, “Outspoken” brings eighteen performers of all abilities together in a production incorporating dance, poetry, music and dramatic scenes.
Six of the performers in “Outspoken” have disabilities ranging from Down Syndrome and physical disability to partial hearing and partial sight. Byron Youth Theatre Director Lisa Apostolides has found innovative ways to incorporate all of her performers’ talents into the production through her collaboration with Michael Hennessy, the Artistic Director of SPRUNG Integrated Dance Theatre and sign language interpreter, Alison Toft.
In one scene, Alison interprets for Tallulah, a young performer with partial hearing. As Tallulah recites one of her poems entitled “The best of both worlds” Alison signs for and with Tallulah as she explores her relationship with friends in both the hearing and non hearing worlds.
In other scenes, performers like Jake, who is partially sighted, and Max and Tara, who have Down Syndrome, add live music and dance into the mix.
Director of Byron Youth Theatre, Lisa says that her experience of working with performers with disabilities has been “really wonderful and rewarding” and that it has been an amazing process to see young people express important issues in their lives through performance.
Raani Nichols, who is one of the regular performers from the Byron Youth Theatre, said that being in “Outspoken” has been “amazing” and “really positive”.
As Lisa says, “Outspoken is about breaking down barriers and finding a comfortable space to be in. I think for some people in the community they don’t know how to react or respond to people with disabilities and sometimes they’re afraid of saying the wrong thing or doing the wrong thing. When I was talking to Max [who has Down Syndrome] he said ‘why don’t people just ask’?”
“Outspoken” will be performed at The Drill Hall, Mullumbimby, NSW on Monday 30th November from 10am – 12pm.
This production has been made possible through FundAbility, a program funded by Northcott to support community projects that promote social inclusion for children and young people with disabilities. For more information see http://www.fundability.com.au.
Altered States
This production focuses on the issues relating to illicit drug use on young people, their families, friends and the community. Devised through facilitated workshops with Director Lisa Apostolides, Altered States toured schools in Byron Shire and also staged a public performance at the Drill Hall in Mullumbimby.
The production was an overwhelming success with many asking for more performances of this powerful work.
Short Promo
Full Show – Cape Byron Steiner School
Altered States was funded by NORTEC Employment and Training Services and Northern Rivers Community Foundation.
Treat Yourself
Treat Yourself, funded by Santos Organics community grant and wonderful community donations through the Australian Cultural Fund
is a departure from the usual intense productions that Byron Youth Theatre create. However it still highlights some very important issues for young people in Year 7 and 8. Becoming aware of the nutritional value of food, the importance of regular exercise that you enjoy, limiting device time and reflecting on individual and social acceptance are all covered in this colourful production.
“We play around with a circus troupe’s and teenagers world colliding in a parallel universe which was a lot of fun!” shares Millie Harman who joined BYT this year.
” It was a really clever and entertaining way to get some great messages across to this year group” commented Head of Welfare at one local high school.
” I hope we get to see more productions. I really enjoyed it and it made me think about the importance and quality of friendships” Year 7 student.
BYT teamed up with Damon Gameau of That Sugar Film,
to provide a screening of the movie for the whole community at the Byron Community Centre before Treat Yourself went to schools.
Lisa Parkes of Ninja Play Academy Byron Bay and Leah Laureau of Byron Yoga Organic Retreat also joined the team to provide an obstacle course and motivational speech and fun yoga and mediation session for the young people.
