Australian Theatre for Young People

Last updated

Australian Theatre for Young People
ATYP
Australian Theatre for Young People.png
Australian Theatre for Young People
Address52-58 William Street
Woolloomooloo, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates 33°52′25.3″S151°12′53.2″E / 33.873694°S 151.214778°E / -33.873694; 151.214778
TypeNot-for-profit theatre
Genre(s)Youth theatre company
Opened1964
Website
atyp.com.au

Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) is the flagship youth theatre company located in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, New South Wales, Australia. Founded in 1963 by playwright Eleanor Witcombe, [1] it has developed and nurtured generations of young talent, counting among its alumni internationally acclaimed actors such as Nicole Kidman, Toni Collette, Rose Byrne, Rebel Wilson, and Baz Luhrmann.

Contents

History

The first committee was formed in 1963 and consisted of Alastair Duncan as chairman, Diana Sharpe as secretary, [2] Nigel Lovell as treasurer, as well as Ellis Irving, Owen Weingott and Wendy Blacklock. [3]

ATYP's first production was the comedy She Stoops to Conquer - Goldsmith Examined by Oliver Goldsmith, adapted and directed by Owen Weingott. [4]

From its early years, the company performed adult-led productions for young audiences. In response to growing demand, in 1967 ATYP launched a workshop program allowing young people aged 10–15 to participate in creating theatre. [5]

Over the next decades, ATYP evolved into a flagship national youth theatre company, commissioning original Australian work, touring nationally, and helping launch many acclaimed careers. It continues to bridge emerging artists with professional practice and remains a major provider of theatre training and development programs for young Australians.

Notable programs include their Fresh Ink Mentoring program and newly created ATYP Originals program, both of which aim to support and develop emerging playwrights by providing professional mentorship, dramaturgical support, and opportunities for public presentation of new work. [6]

Location

Since 2022, ATYP has been based at Pier 2/3 in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Sydney, returning to the historic waterfront location after major renovations to the site. [5] As part of the redevelopment, ATYP gained a permanent home in the newly built Rebel Theatre, a purpose-built venue named after actor, alumna, and major supporter Rebel Wilson, whose philanthropic contribution helped make the space possible. [7]

Rebel Wilson Rebel Wilson (6707611099) (cropped).jpg
Rebel Wilson

Previously, ATYP had been located at The Wharf, Pier 4/5, from 1997 until 2018, when construction began on the broader Walsh Bay Arts Precinct redevelopment. During the interim construction period, ATYP temporarily relocated its office to Woolloomooloo and presented works across multiple venues including the SBW Stables Theatre, Riverside Theatres Parramatta, and The Joan in Penrith. [8]

Notable alumni

Alumni of the company include: [9]

Productions

ATYP productions have toured regionally, such as Sugarland, [27] nationally, such as A Town Named War Boy, [28] and internationally, such as Patrice Balbina's Chance Encounter with the End of the World. [29]

Productions since 2011 include: [30]

YearTitle
2011Cursed Hearts
2011Tell It Like It Isn't
2011 Ishmael and the Return of the Dugongs
2011Rainbow's End
2012Grounded [31]
2012The Tender Age
2012 Animal Farm
2012Max Remy Super Spy
2012Cockroach
2012The Dwarf Revue
2012The One Sure Thing
2013The Shape of Things
2013Out of Place
2013 Spur of the Moment
2013Tease
2013The Dwarf Revue 2
2013Compass
2013Key to the City
2014M.Rock [32]
2014Sugarland [33]
2014The Voices Project: Bite Me [34]
2014Luke Lloyd: Alienoid
2015A Town Named War Boy [35]
2015Between Us
2015Then
2015War Crimes [36]
2015The Trolleys [37]
2016Patrice Balbina's Chance Encounter with the End of the World
2016The Big Dry [38]
2016 Spring Awakening: The Musical [39]
2016Fight with all of Your Might the Zombies of Tonight
2016All Good Things
2017Homeroom Series Double Bill
2017Dignity of Risk
2017Michael Swordfish
2017Oedipus Doesn't Live Here Anymore
2017Intersection
2017Wonderfly
2018Patrice Balbina's Chance Encounter with the End of the World
2018Impending Everyone
2018Intersection 2018: Chrysalis
2018A Town Named War Boy
2018The Climbing Tree
2018Charlie Pligrim
2019Follow Me Home
2019April Aardvark
2019 Fangirls
2019Bathory Begins
2019Intersection 2019: Arrival
2020The 1s, The 0s, and Everything In Between
2020Intersection 2020: Beat
2020Soul Trading
2020The Lies We Were Told
2020Lights in the Park
2021Follow Me Home & national tour
2021Lights in the Park
2021 Fangirls
2021The Lies We Were Told
2021Shack
2021Soul Trading
2022M.Rock
2022 The Deb
2022A Clockwork Orange: A Play with Music
2023The Resistance
2024 Saplings
2024 Past the Shallows

References

  1. "Eleanor Witcombe". New Theatre History. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  2. "The voice that took listeners on a magical journey". The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 August 2005. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  3. "ATYP 50th anniversary (also available as video)". Radio National. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  4. Drevikovsky, T.M. (24 July 1964). "She Stoops to Conquer". The Shore Weekly Record. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  5. 1 2 "ATYP History". ATYP.
  6. "ATYP Writing Programs". ATYP.
  7. "ATYP Rebel Theatre". ATYP.
  8. "Boundaries: Between Theatre for Young People and Adults' Theatre", Theatre as a Medium for Children and Young People, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2006, pp. 9–27, doi:10.1007/1-4020-4440-2_1, ISBN   1402044380
  9. "Our People". ATYP. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  10. Casamento, Jo (1 March 2014). "Hollywood opens its door for Indiana Evans". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  11. "Rose Byrne-ing Down the House". NPR. 31 August 2018.
  12. ATYP TWENTY SEVENTEEN. issuu. 2017. pp. 42–43.
  13. "Abbie's excellent adventure". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  14. Taylor, Andrew (19 January 2015). "Youth Sector Funding: ATYP fears for the future". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  15. Dunn, Emily. "She planted the seed and grew to Shakespearean heights". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  16. "Hollywood role for Australian actor Beejan Land". IF Magazine.
  17. Paitandy, Priyadarshini (20 November 2013). "Being 'Everything at once'". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  18. Swain, Marianka. "BWW Interview: Ben Lewis Talks THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  19. "The Picture Rebel Wilson Does Not Want You to See". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  20. "A Town Named War Boy review: No Escape from the Ghosts of Gallipoli". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  21. Marriner, Cosima (22 March 2018). "'Australian drama is unparalleled': Why Phoebe Tonkin came home for her latest role". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  22. Blake, Elissa (14 September 2013). "Girl wonder". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  23. Thompson, Courtney (13 October 2021). "Sophie Wilde Is Australia's Next Great Scene Stealer". Marie Claire Australia . Retrieved 25 September 2023. Watching actor Sophie Wilde, 23...
  24. "Dirty Deeds done in awe". The Age. 31 July 2002. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  25. "Rebel Wilson Takes to the Stage in Sydney". The Sydney Herald.
  26. "ATYP 50th anniversary (also available as video)". Radio National. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  27. "ATYP Production Support - Ongoing Donation". Canberra Times. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  28. "What's Happening This November". State Library NSW. 18 November 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  29. Greenaway, Judith (22 January 2016). "Patrice Babina's Chance Encounter with the End of The World @ ATYP". Sydney Arts Guide. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  30. "Past Productions". ATYP. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  31. LONGWORTH, KEN (13 May 2012). "Theatre review: Grounded". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  32. Blake, Jason (15 June 2014). "M.Rock review: Musical fairytale is warm, funny, but will you dance?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  33. Shand, John (4 September 2014). "Sugarland review: The young and the restless". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  34. "Bite Me theatre review (ATYP, Sydney)". Daily Review: Film, stage and music reviews, interviews and more. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  35. Blake, Jason (5 May 2015). "A town named War Boy review: No escape from the ghosts of Gallipoli". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  36. Blake, Elissa (14 July 2015). "How the desecration of an Anzac memorial led to War Crimes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  37. Blake, Jason (8 November 2015). "The Trolleys review: Young actors illuminate key themes of life". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  38. Spicer, David (12 June 2016). "Kids lead the way in Sydney climate change theatre production". ABC News. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  39. Blake, Jason (2 May 2016). "Spring Awakening review: Mitchell Butel's take on sexually curious teens rocks". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2019.