Review by Ekatarina Maric
Young Critics is an opportunity for those interested in watching, critically discussing, and reviewing theatre and performance. This program will develop the skills and elevate the voices of some of the most passionate young theatre-lovers in our community.
- Attend monthly workshops with Artistic Director Luke Rogers, and leading professional critics.
- Learn how to critically analyse, discuss, and creatively respond to work.
- Attend a range of performance events for free, in return for reviews or other critical responses.
- Write and publish reviews and articles that critically reflect on theatre-making in Canberra.
- Develop platforms to share your views, such as videos, podcasts, and other media.
Some of the shows our Young Critics saw last year:
- Stunt Double (Canberra Theatre Centre)
- Eulogiser Bunny, The Will to Be, Bombshells, Ordinary Days, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Q).
- HELIOS, The Shoe Horn Sonata, Terror, Some Like it Marilyn, Rockspeare Henry Sixth Part Two, Eurydice, The Chalk Pit (Mill Theatre).
- Seagull, 5 Women Wearing The Same Dress, The Inheritance (ACTHub).
- Work But This Time Like You Mean It, The Department of Responsible Adulting (Canberra Youth Theatre).
Get The Details
| WHO | Ages 16–25 |
| WHEN | 30 April 2025 – 26 November 2025 |
| COST | There are no additional ticket costs to attend any of the shows in the program. |
Enrolments close Friday 25 April 2025
You will need to create a Class Manager account to enrol. If you are over 18, please set up a CUSTOMER profile for yourself, including your phone number, as well as a STUDENT profile for yourself. Additionally, please add an emergency contact number under ‘contacts’. If you have any difficulties enrolling, please send us an email at info@canberrayouththeatre.com.au or call 02 6248 5057.
Young Critics is a subsidised program. As such, it is a low-cost opportunity, that nonetheless represents a serious commitment – please consider your ability to commit to attending all of the sessions listed below, and to fully engage with the program.
We understand that putting your opinions out into the world can feel vulnerable. Please rest assured that participants will be guided through the process of writing reviews, and all reviews will be edited by a member of staff before being published. To get an idea of what’s expected, see previous Young Critics reviews here.
Young Critics is generously supported by Liv Hewson and The Jeremy Spencer Broom Legacy.
Further information
Review by Grace Cassidy
Review by Grace Cassidy
Review by Grace Cassidy
Review by Ashleigh Butler
Review by Rohan Alston-Fisher
Review by Rohan Alston-Fisher
Review by Sophia Matz
Review by Freya Rowell
Review by Ekaterina Maric
Review by Edith Baggoley
Review by Freya Rowell
Review by Grace Cassidy
Review by Grace Cassidy
Review by Jade Breen
Review by Nieshanka Nanthakrishnakumar
Review by Danny Yazdani
Review by Edith Baggoley
Review by Ekaterina Maric
Review by Freya Rowell
Review by Grace Cassidy
Review by Rohan Alston-Fisher
Review by Jessica Kelly
Review by Ekaterina Maric
Review by Nieshanka Nanthakrishnakumar
Review by Samson Ullinger
Review by Sophia Matz
Review by Grace Cassidy
Review by Freya Rowell
Review by Ekaterina Maric
Review by Jessica Kelly
Review by Edith Baggoley
Review by Jade Breen
Review by Grace Cassidy
Review by Ashleigh Butler
Review by Danny Yazdani
Review by Jade Breen
Reviews 31 March 2025 “There, among the creatures of intricate craftsmanship, was a different kind of artistry at play — the artistry of investigating, mentoring, discovering, and growing together.” Our Creative Learning Producer, Anna Johnstone, reflects on Canberra Youth Theatre’s collaboration with Erth, and what happens when arts organisations work together. Beneath the open sky […]
News 28 March 2025 “When I was young, hungry and had no idea where to start, there was a theatre company in my hometown that was made for people just like me.” Liv Hewson (they/them) is one of Canberra’s most successful exports: star of the Paramount+ with Showtime series Yellowjackets, and the upcoming Australian comedy […]
News 16 December 2024 The winner of Canberra Youth Theatre’s 2024 Emerging Playwright Commission is Melbourne-based playwright Sarah Matthews, for her play, The Hit List. Centering teenage characters, experiences, and language to explore themes of sexism and gender-based violence in Australia, the play follows an ensemble cast through the pressure cooker of the final days […]
Tuesday 3 December 2024 To our valued community, In response to ongoing challenges with arts funding, rising costs, and reduced spending, Canberra Youth Theatre has been forced to evaluate the sustainability of our activities. We have had to make some difficult decisions for our 52-year-old theatre company, which means 2025 is going to look different […]
Review by Lucinda Ferguson
24 July 2024 With over twenty years of experience as a director in professional theatre and on audition panels, Luke Rogers has sat through a LOT of auditions… So what are his top tips for landing the part? Find a monologue that is active. In my Auditions and Monologues Masterclass, the big focus for the […]
Review by Kat Dunkerley
Friday 31 May, 2024 We are on the look-out for young artists in school years 4–7 for the next creative development of Sonia’s play, which will take place over two weekends, 22nd & 23rd, and 29th & 30th June from 10am–3pm each day at Gorman Arts Centre. This is a free opportunity to be involved in creating a […]
Review by Jacqueline Collier
Review by Alexi Clark-Mitchell
Review by Jade Breen
Review by Alexi Clark-Mitchell
Review 15 December 2023 We’re all about promoting the voice of youth and providing a platform for young people to share their experiences and develop their critical voice through our Ambassadors program. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of Canberra Youth Theatre or its staff. Hannah Cornelia, one of […]
News The winner of Canberra Youth Theatre’s 2023 Emerging Playwright Commission is Sydney-based playwright Sonia Dodd, for her play, How to Destroy the Beep Test in Five Days. The play follows a group of students coming up to the final term of primary school, who firmly believe that the beep test is an unethical method […]
Canberra Youth Theatre supports voting YES in the upcoming referendum on The Voice to Parliament. For over 50 years, Canberra Youth Theatre has advocated for the voice of young Australians, and amplified them through the work that we create. We believe that at the heart of our nation’s identity and culture should be the voice […]
Hear from Mary Rachel Brown, Writer of Rosieville. 28 Sep 2023 We sat down with playwright Mary Rachel Brown to gain an insight into her journey, creative process and approach to writing Rosieville! Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey, Mary! How I got into the biz is a long story, as they […]
Review 7 September 2023 We’re all about promoting the voice of youth and providing a platform for young people to share their experiences and develop their critical voice through our Ambassadors program. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of Canberra Youth Theatre or its staff. Jade Breen, one of […]
How can 50–200 words possibly define the multi-faceted splendour of who you are? Let’s be real, it can’t. But you’ve got to write something – so let’s make it something good. A biography, or ‘bio’, in a program for a show (or on a website) is a little thing that can enhance the audience’s experience […]
Review by Kat Dunkerley
Hear from Patrick Haesler, Sound Designer for You Can’t Tell Anyone. 14 Aug 2023 We sat down with the Sound Designer of You Can’t Tell Anyone, Patrick Haesler, to gain an insight into his journey, creative process and approach to sound designing You Can’t Tell Anyone! Howdy Patrick! We’d love to know more about you and […]
Hear from Kathleen Kershaw, Set & Costume Designer for You Can’t Tell Anyone. 8 Aug 2023 We sat down with the Costume & Set Designer of You Can’t Tell Anyone, Kathleen Kershaw, to gain an insight into her life, creative process and approach to the second show in our season! Kathleen! Tell us about yourself […]
Review by Hannah Cornelia
Get to know You Can’t Tell Anyone director Caitlin Baker and her approach to the second show in our season. 2 Aug 2023 We sat down with the director of You Can’t Tell Anyone, Caitlin Baker, to gain an insight into her life, journey and why she does what she does – and loves it! […]
Review by Alexi Clark-Mitchell
Review by Quinn Goodwin
Review by Breanna Kelly
Review by Disa Swifte
Review by Emily O’Mahoney
Review by Jade Breen
Hooray! You’ve secured an audition for a play you’re really keen to be a part of. You open the confirmation email and see those daunting words: Please prepare a monologue of your choice For many theatre auditions, like the ones at Canberra Youth Theatre, you will be asked to find and prepare your own monologue. […]
Review by Sarah Larkin
Review by Madeleine Smith
Holding Redlich partners with Canberra Youth Theatre to support next generation of young playwrights
News National law firm Holding Redlich and Canberra Youth Theatre have today announced a new long-term partnership, in which Holding Redlich will be the principal sponsor of the Emerging Playwright Commission for the next three years. Canberra Youth Theatre’s Emerging Playwright Commission offers professional support to an emerging Australian playwright, to create a new full-length […]
Review by Ella Buckley
News Canberra Youth Theatre is proud to announce the inaugural recipient of the Emerging Playwright Commission, ACT-based playwright Joanna Richards for her play You Can’t Tell Anyone. Canberra Youth Theatre’s Emerging Playwright Commission is a new initiative offering a professional commission for an emerging Australian Playwright to create a new full-length work that brings young […]
News Canberra Youth Theatre is honoured to announce the generous support of a legacy gift made to commemorate the late Jeremy Spencer Broom which will be going towards supporting and growing the Emerging Artists Program over the next five years. Jeremy Spencer Broom had a great love for theatre and engaged with Canberra Youth Theatre […]
News Rebecca Duke joined us as a Resident Artist in 2020. Here she reflects on her time with the company. When I applied for Canberra Youth Theatre’s Resident Artists program I was looking for an artistic community. I’d spent the last year attending short writing residencies across Australia and I wanted to find a similar community […]
News Introducing… Rebecca Duke Rebecca joined the company as one of our Resident Artists this year. We asked her a few questions about who she is and what she’s all about. Tell us a little about yourself and the work that you do. I’m a 20 year old playwright from Tasmania studying PPE/Arts at ANU. […]
News Introducing… Holly Johnson Holly is one of three amazing emerging artists who joined the company as residents this year. We asked her a few questions to help you get to know her. Tell us a little about yourself and the work that you do. I’m an actor, budding director and passionate art historian. I […]
News Introducing… Claire Holland We are so chuffed to have Claire round out our amazing team of residents. Claire is an ANU student with a wealth of theatre experience. We asked her some questions to help you get to know her. Tell is a bit about yourself and the work you do. I’m interested in […]
