| Stage School Australia | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Other names | Australian Youth Theatre (AYT) Young Australian Broadway Chorus (YABC) Australian Boys Dance Academy (ABDA) |
| Former names | Victorian Youth Theatre (VYT) Children's Performing Company of Australia (CPCA) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Faculty | 200+ |
| Website | stageschool |
Stage School Australia is a performing arts training organisation for young people founded in 1984. [1] Based in Melbourne and Brisbane, its performing arm is known as the Young Australian Broadway Chorus. [1] [2] The school also operates the Australian Boys Dance Academy. [3] Classes are offered for children as young as 4 years of age, up to age 18. [1]
| Type | Theatre group |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Website | stageschool |
Established in 1984 in Melbourne, the group was known as the Victorian Youth Theatre (VYT) for many years. [1] It later became known as the Children's Performing Company of Australia (CPCA). [1] It has operated as Stage School Australia since 2014. [1]
In 1999, the school's performing ensembles became known as the Young Australian Broadway Chorus (YABC). [1] Recognised by The Age as "Melbourne's leading musical-theatre training organisation", the YABC offers classes in singing, dancing, and acting, and stages several shows a year. [4] [2] [5] Many YABC alumni have gone on to pursue professional careers. [5]
In response to strong interest from the community, the school opened the Australian Boys Dance Academy (ABDA) in 2014. [1] [2] [3] In the early years, its motto was "No tutus. No tights. We dance in pants." [3] The ABDA offers classes in hip-hop, jazz, and tap dance. [6]
In 2022, Stage School Australia expanded to Brisbane. [7] According to the school, as of 2025, it operates across 30 venues across Melbourne and Brisbane, with more than 200 teachers and over 5,800 students. [1] The organisation also hires out its stage sets, props, and costumes for external shows. [8]
As of 2025, the artistic director is Robert Coates, who started working for Stage School in 1995, and has directed most major YABC productions. [2] [9] [4]
Stage School Australia students perform at least twice a year. [1] The Young Australian Broadway Chorus students perform in professionally staged productions, and can audition for school holiday productions and tours. [5]
In 2010, the Young Australian Broadway Chorus performed Pure Imagination at the National Theatre in St Kilda, Melbourne. [10] The show featured musical theatre classic songs from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory , Oliver! , Guys and Dolls , and Wicked . [10]
In 2011, YABC acquired the rights to stage the Broadway musical Spring Awakening . [4] A cast with 24 members, all between the ages of 16 and 18, performed the full 2-hour musical at the National Theatre in St. Kilda, with signed permission from their parents. [4]
In 2016, a cast of 74 performers from YABC appeared in the school's production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast at the University of Melbourne Union Theatre. [11]
Stage School Australia's first production in Brisbane was The Wizard of Oz at the Draney Theatre, Ashgrove in 2024. [12] [7] In April 2025, it is staging the musical Seussical , also at the Draney Theatre. [13] [7] A review in The Scoop called it "a joyful, high-energy celebration of imagination". [13]
Since 1996, Stage School Australia has conducted tours in Australia and internationally to countries including France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. [1]
In 1999, 15 performers from the Victorian Youth Theatre went on a three-week tour in the United States, with performances at venues including Disneyworld in Florida and the Lincoln Center in New York. [14]
In 2010, 40 performers from the YABC performed at the Adelaide Fringe festival. [15] A review in The Advertiser called their Broadway Junior Collection musical "fabulous", presenting "a torrent of foot-tapping big numbers, some good solo spots to showcase rising star material, some spirited dance routines and a bit of a story". [15]