“The ACT Government is pleased to support Canberra Youth Theatre in taking this production to Sydney, showcasing the extraordinary talent and creativity that thrives in the ACT,” said Minister Michael Pettersson (second from right). Photo: Supplied/ Canberra Youth Theatre.
The Canberra Youth Theatre will be taking their record-breaking show Work, But This Time Like You Mean It, to Sydney for a one-week performance at the Rebel Theatre.
The play, which broke the theatre’s box office records, won the organisation’s 2022 Emerging Playwright Commission.
Luke Rogers, Artistic Director and CEO of Canberra Youth Theatre, said that it was a big win for them.
“The opportunity to take this crazy, joyous show to Sydney makes a strong statement for the quality of Canberra theatre. This tour will fly the flag for the art being created in the ACT, and showcase the emerging artists who have made it such a success.”
“It will be a transformative experience that is sure to expand their creative horizons. They can’t contain their excitement — and nor should they,” said Director Luke Rogers. Photo: Canberra Youth Theatre
Written by Honor Webster-Mannison, the play is described as a darkly surreal comedy and follows a group of teenage fast food workers at a fried chicken restaurant.
Twenty-year-old Stirling Notley, who plays the character of Food Prep, described the play as a pseudo time loop that explores the absurdity of fast food work.
“You see a regular shift that a bunch of workers would be having while working at a fast food restaurant, then the play loops back around to the beginning. And you see the story again. But from different perspectives,” he said.
“It basically leads up to the end where a massive accident happens and you realise in the situation that none of these people know what they’re doing.”
Eighteen-year-old Georgie Bianchina, who plays ‘Kiosk’, a new hire who operates the kiosk, said it is huge for the team to be going to Sydney, describing it as incredibly exciting.
“It was the most exciting thing ever, the whole cast, we’re all really close, and we would always joke about going on tour because we didn’t want it to end … when Luke told us there was potential for us to go to Sydney it was the most exciting thing ever for us,” she said.
“I’ve really fallen in love with their approach to theatre,” said Stirling Notley, playing Food Prep (Centre, top), with Mathew Hogan. Photo: Canberra Youth Theatre
Georgie said that their favourite scene was one of the play’s most surreal.
“The most interesting part is probably the sequences where we all become chickens with rubber chicken masks. And there’s like flashing flow music, video lights in the background, and we’re diving into the deep fryer.”
Mr Rogers said that getting to take the group of 12 actors to Sydney is a testament to what young people can achieve.
“It will be a transformative experience that is sure to expand their creative horizons. They can’t contain their excitement — and nor should they!”
“I play kiosk, it’s her first day at this fast food place, and she’s 13 years old. Everyone’s questioning if it’s even legal for her to be there, and she feels very lost,” said Georgie Bianchina (centre). Photo: Canberra Youth Theatre.
The ACT Government has provided funding to support the tour. Minister for Arts and Creative Industries, Michael Pettersson, announced the $30,000 of funding at the theatre last week.
“The ACT Government is pleased to support Canberra Youth Theatre in taking this production to Sydney, showcasing the extraordinary talent and creativity that thrives in the ACT,” he said.
“Opportunities like this not only elevate our emerging artists but also strengthen Canberra’s reputation as a vibrant cultural hub.”
The theatre itself has been in financial trouble recently, with the company declaring a pause on all productions and training programs last December over funding issues.
Former student Liv Hewson, law firm Holding Redlich, and the ACT Government have since thrown the theatre a lifeline.
However, they are still seeking other funding avenues to continue staging productions in the city.
Work, But This Time Like You Mean It will be at the Rebel Theatre in Sydney, 15 to 18 October. Tickets from Humantix.
