The Annual Youth Theatre Festival

A key calendar event for secondary schools, AYTF celebrates school engagement and professional theatre-making, while providing students with invaluable opportunities to explore and find joy in all aspects of theatre production. Previous AYTF productions have included Mother, Decoded and The Tower.

As part of the festival, eight schools come together to respond to a provocation, from which they select a performance style and create a 10-minute performance. Over a six-week period, student groups are paired with a professional theatre artist to direct and guide performance development, rehearsal and the finale, which will be performed on Q Theatre’s professional stage in front of an audience.

For over 25 years, Q Theatre has invited students to gain direct experience working in a professional theatre-making environment and providing pathways for many into theatre careers in Penrith, greater Western Sydney and beyond. AYTF continues this long-running tradition.

Schools: Want to be a creator or participate as audience members? Scroll down and check out our ‘Schools Applications, Bookings and Resources’ section for more information. Suitable for Years 9 – 12.

General Public: Join us to celebrate our rising local talent as they bring their ideas to the stage using different theatrical styles. Suitable for ages 14+