Join Young Critics

Theatre-lovers aged 16–25 who are ready to deepen their engagement with performance and join the critical conversation. This program suits you if you:

• Have opinions about the shows you see and want to articulate them with confidence
• Are curious about how theatre is made and why creative choices matter
• Can commit to attending productions across Canberra throughout the year
• Are comfortable sharing your thoughts in group discussions and meeting review deadlines (we’ll support you!)
• Want to connect with other passionate young critics and arts professionals

No critical writing experience required—just genuine curiosity, commitment, and a love of theatre.

Enrolments Open: Friday 30 January 2026

Enrolments Close: Friday 6 March 2026

Young Critics doesn’t require an application to participate. To enrol click the ‘enrol now’ button above, create a Class Manager account, and enrol in the program.

Note there are limited spots.

If you have any issues enroling, email info@canberrayouththeatre.com.au.

Monthly critical development workshops: Learn frameworks for analysing performance, design, text, and direction. Develop the vocabulary and techniques to articulate what makes theatre work—or why it doesn’t—with clarity, depth, and confidence.

Diverse theatre attendance across Canberra: Experience our theatrical landscape in all its variety. From contemporary Australian work to classic texts, professional productions to community theatre, you’ll build appreciation for different styles, genres, and approaches to theatre-making.

Group excursions and collaborative discussions: Watch performances together and unpack your responses with fellow critics. Engage in lively debate, explore different perspectives, and discover how collaborative critical thinking deepens everyone’s understanding.

Structured review writing with editorial support: Write regular reviews with individual guidance and feedback. Develop your critical voice, learn to structure compelling arguments, and meet deadlines—skills that translate far beyond theatre criticism.

Multi-platform publication and portfolio development: See your work published through our online platforms and explore different formats for sharing critical perspectives. Build a portfolio that demonstrates your growing expertise and establishes your voice in Canberra’s theatre community.

Industry connections and professional mentorship: Meet directors, designers, playwrights, and critics. Understand the creative decisions behind the work, learn how criticism contributes to the artistic ecosystem, and position yourself as an emerging critical voice within Canberra’s theatre network.

By the end of Young Critics, you’ll:

Say what you think—and why: Move beyond “I liked it” to articulate your perspective with confidence and clarity. You’ll develop the vocabulary and frameworks of theatrical analysis to express nuanced understanding of how theatre creates meaning and impact.

Find your authentic critical voice: Discover what matters to you in performance and why. You’ll understand your aesthetic values and learn to express them genuinely, not by mimicking others but by developing your own perspective.

Write reviews people want to read: Produce clear, compelling criticism that engages readers and contributes to Canberra’s theatrical discourse. You’ll build a published portfolio demonstrating your growing expertise and critical voice.

Understand the theatre ecosystem: See how critics, artists, and audiences interact to create vibrant theatrical culture. You’ll grasp sophisticated aspects of design, direction, performance, and dramaturgy, and understand how thoughtful criticism supports artistic development.

Join Canberra’s theatre conversation: Build relationships with fellow critics, theatre-makers, and arts organisations. You’ll be part of the dialogue that shapes our city’s artistic life, with connections that become future collaborations.

Develop skills you’ll use everywhere: Strengthen analytical thinking, clear communication, deadline management, and constructive feedback—abilities that serve you across creative, professional, and academic contexts far beyond theatre criticism.

Workshop Sessions:

Wednesday 11 March 2026 (6:30 – 8:30pm)
Wednesday 1 April 2026 (6:30 – 8:30pm)
Wednesday 6 May 2026 (6:30 – 8:30pm)
Wednesday 10 June 2026 (6:30 – 8:30pm)
Wednesday 15 July 2026 (6:30 – 8:30pm)
Wednesday 12 August 2026 (6:30 – 8:30pm)
Wednesday 9 September 2026 (6:30 – 8:30pm)
Wednesday 14 October 2026 (6:30 – 8:30pm)

Plus opportunities to attend many theatre productions throughout the year.

Commitment

This program requires consistent attendance and active engagement. As a critic, you’re joining an ongoing conversation about theatre in Canberra—your voice matters, and your presence shapes our collective understanding. Workshop sessions, show attendances, and review deadlines build on each other throughout the year, so we ask that you commit fully to the program unless exceptional circumstances arise.

When you accept complimentary tickets to productions, you’re making a commitment to attend those performances—respecting both the opportunity and the artists whose work you’ll be engaging with. We ask that you respond to communications in a timely manner, meet review deadlines with care, and engage generously with your fellow critics and the work you’re reviewing.

This isn’t just about meeting expectations; it’s about developing the habits and reliability that define working critics and contributing meaningfully to Canberra’s arts conversation.

The Culture We Build Together

Being part of Canberra Youth Theatre means joining a professional artistic community where emerging artists shape the future of Australian theatre. Our practice is built on:

• Commitment – to the work, the process, and the artists you’re creating alongside
• Courage – taking creative risks, challenging conventions, and pushing your practice forward
• Respect – for diverse perspectives, bold artistic choices, and the collaborative space we share
• Curiosity – treating each project as a chance to deepen your craft and expand your voice
• Professionalism – holding ourselves to the standards of the theatre industry we’re entering

This is where you transition from training into practice, where your ideas matter, and where the work you create contributes to your development, our community, and the broader arts sector.

Young Critics is a heavily subsidised program – the full cost is $437 per person, which, due to the generous support of our funders, we are able to offer for only $120 for our members. Nonetheless, we understand that paying upfront in full can be difficult, so we offer flexible payment plans to spread out the cost over the course of the program.

Please see the financial support we offer, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@canberrayouththeatre.com.au to discuss payment options.