Festival returns with a new name but same dedication to aspiring theatre talent Students in the spotlight

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This June, Q Theatre’s key youth event will be returning as The Riff: Youth Theatre Festival, with local schools set to showcase inspired performances.

The event, which has been around for over 30 years as Flannofest, then the Annual Youth Theatre Festival, aims to provide local young people with a platform to express their ideas, and an invaluable experience working in a professional theatre setting.

Glenmore Park High School has been involved in the event for many years, with participation part of their Year 11 students’ assessment task, said Drama Teacher Dee Mattes.

“There’s a unit in Year 11 Preliminary Drama that they need to do the elements of production. What better way to figure out and learn about how production works, than going to the Joan Sutherland Theatre and working with outside directors to get that experience?” she said.

This year, the school is working with their director to create a work that reflects this year’s theme, ‘Welcome Home’.

The students have now been working together for a few weeks, with Mattes saying that each aspect has helped the students to learn about the industry –even just being on the stage at The Joan for the first time.

“When you come from a humble class room with lights, it’s quite the opposite when that that’s where they get Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School has also been participating in the event for a long time, sending a combined Year 9 and 10 class called Nepean Young People’s Theatre to showcase their performance pieces.

Over the past few weeks, the school has been working with director Aslam Abdus-samad on a horror comedy piece. Already, Drama Teacher Emma Taite said she has seen the benefits of her students working with a new

“Each director has a different way of approaching things, and I think that’s good for the kids, because they get to see that there’s not one way to create theatre,” she

A former director with the festival herself, Taite has only rave remarks regarding the program, and encourages everyone to come along and support young, local talent.

“Bringing all of these kids together for this one festival who have all gone through the same experience of working with a visiting artist or director, they’re all on an even playing field, and they celebrate that,” she said.

“It’s all about celebrating them, and giving them the experience of storytelling, and also telling our local stories.”

The festival will be on at The Joan on Friday, June 2 at 12pm and 7pm. Tickets are Standard $25, Concession $20, Family of Four $80. Visit thejoan.com.au.

Aprovisional driver has narrowly avoided a full-time jail sentence after being allowed to serve her term of imprisonment in the community.

Tessa Smith, 36, fronted Penrith Local Court on Thursday, May 11, charged with ‘common assault’ and three counts of ‘drive motor vehicle during disqualification period’.

According to court documents, police first noticed her in the driver’s seat of a black

Mercedes Benz Kompressor Coupé on October 27, 2022.

Court documents state that Smith’s car was stationary in traffic and police pulled up alongside her and stopped the vehicle shortly after.

When asked to produce her licence, Smith told police: “I’m disqualified”.

Further checks revealed that her registration had also been cancelled in August, 2022, due to a fine default.

After telling police that she had entered into a payment plan but was unable to make the payments, she was cautioned and no further action was taken.

Smith was also found guilty of punching a former partner in the face in August 2022.

On Thursday, a lawyer told the court that Smith uses drugs to self medicate symptoms of severe PTSD and anxiety.

She also said that her client is an Aboriginal woman who has experienced “significant emotional upheaval”.

In her final submissions, she asked the magistrate to consider alternatives to fulltime imprisonment.

Magistrate Fiona Toose was frank in handing down her sentence, saying Smith needs to “abandon” her past and that she would “be going to jail full-time” if she hadn’t started going to rehab.

“I accept you’ve had a chaotic and unfortunate upbringing,” she said.

“If you keep doing this you will be in jail for a long time, I can assure you”.

Smith was given a 12 month Community Correction Order (CCO) and a 12 month Intensive Correction Order (ICO). She was also disqualified from driving until May 2026.