Top Class Regional 2024: Music is sure to be an incredible concert representing young musicians and composers from across Victoria. 

Concert | Tuesday 16 April | 4pm | GPAC Main Theatre | From $12

For the first time, the VCAA is bringing Top Class concerts to regional Victoria. Audiences will enjoy a selection of top performing VCE Music students from 2023. 

This dynamic concert features incredible students performing a range of styles, genres and instrumentation. Top Class Music is an opportunity to see and hear some of Victoria’s finest up and coming musicians. 

The concert presents various instruments, interpretations and styles by soloists and groups, as well as original student compositions. Compered by curriculum experts, the concert provides examples of top performing students and insights into preparing for VCE performance examinations. This is an opportunity to enjoy a brilliant and eclectic concert series suitable for all ages. 

Full program will be available in mid-February 2024. Visit: www.vcaa.edu.au/seasonofexcellence 

Part of the VCE Season of Excellence 2024, presented by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. 

VCE Inspo Forum | Tuesday 16 April | 2.15pm | GPAC Little Theatre | Free

Want to get your VCE studies off to a flying start? This specially developed forum features guest artist Dr. Adam Starr and a Q & A panel including VCE Top Class Music alumni and a curriculum expert. 

The VCE ‘Inspo’ Forum consists of an insightful thirty-minute Ted Talk-style session by special guest artist Dr. Adam Starr. Adam will provide specific examples from their own work and crucial strategies to generate, explore and consolidate elite creative ideas from their inception.   

This will be followed by a fifty-minute Q & A session, where students and teachers can directly engage with an experienced panel featuring VCE Top Class student alumni, a curriculum expert, and special guest artist Dr. Adam Starr.   

Facilitator, Adam Starr:

Dr Adam Starr has taught in the Bachelor of Music Degree at Melbourne Polytechnic since 2012, lecturing in Composition, Composition for Media, Music Technology in Composition, Arranging, Performance, Career Strategies in the Music Industry, Ensemble and Guitar. 

A fun and whimsical story-telling workshop, led by acclaimed children’s entertainer Em Chandler, designed to help children develop their imagination.  

Tuesday 9 April | 1:00pm | GPAC Town Hall Theatre

Come fracture, explore, and retell some classic fairy tales through kindness, wonder, and play! Let’s use our imaginations, blankets, chairs, and all sorts of everyday objects to make troll bridges and little pig’s houses! We can be sneaky Goldilocks and Big Bad Wolves with a colander hat or blanket cape. And what happens when we start to change the stories? Are there more than three billy goats gruff? What if they were superheros? An alien invasion, or pig fairy godmothers? Let’s find out together.  

Using a combination of imaginative play, verbal and non-verbal storytelling, music, and ‘following the leader’, participants will retell traditional fairy tales as a group, before ‘fracturing them’/pulling them apart, asking “what if…?” and letting our imaginations guide us. We’ll turn everyday objects into our set and props and work collaboratively to retell a classic fairy tale or two that won’t have been told quite that way before.   

About Em Chandler:

Em Chandler (she/they) is a lauded storyteller, magician, and theatre-maker. With over 16 years of experience working with kids and their adults, Em is a proud queer/trans artist who connects with others through kindness and wonder, bringing her unique repertoire of spells, stories and songs to intimate community events or major festivals. Passionate about social justice, fairy tales, and drinking tea, The Sydney Morning Herald calls Em "pure enchantment". 

How would you like to join the circus, just for a day? Follow Your (Red) Nose! introduces kids to the joyful, confidence-building, and inspiring world of red-nose clowning. 

Wednesday 3 April | 10:00am | GPAC Town Hall Theatre

Led by professional Clown Doctor and funny specialist - Kayla Hamill, this specially designed workshop is for children of all abilities, social skills, introverts and extroverts. Clowning is a serious business. Well, serious and loads of fun too. Each participant receives their own red nose, and through a series of carefully planned and inclusive games and activities, they will learn how to delight an audience, and each other, with generosity, adaptability, and kindness.  

The workshop concludes with a short presentation for family and friends.  

You will learn about connecting with yourself, your fellow performers, and your audience, how to be open, playful, and ‘seen’, without embarrassment, How to be resilient and generous with others, and how being silly can give you confidence, and the ability to adapt. 

About Kayla Hamill: 

Kayla Hamill is a performer and facilitator who runs creative workshops that help children develop confidence, social and performance skills. Recently, Kayla oversaw community outreach for the Fairfax Youth Festival, a creative arts program aimed to teach and inspire young people from rural Victoria. 

“You have to believe in yourself, that's the secret.” - Charlie Chaplin 

Elmo's Circus Dream is a must-see show of laughter, acrobatics, and imagination! Join Elmo and friends for an unforgettable circus adventure. Don't miss the magic! 

Sunday 10 March | 10:30am & 1pm | GPAC Main Theatre

It all begins with Elmo's captivating bedtime story about the circus. As Elmo falls asleep, he is magically transported to a colourful world, where he is warmly greeted by his friends Abby, Cookie Monster, Bert, and Ernie. The show bursts into high energy as the talented cast sings and dances to the iconic Sesame Street theme song, but with a twist - they are embarking on an exciting adventure to the circus! With their vibrant costumes and catchy tunes, they express their deep desire to join the circus and become part of its magical experience. From hilarious clowning and daring stunt attempts to mesmerising dog acts and captivating dance routines, the stage comes alive with their boundless energy, skill, and infectious enthusiasm.  

But the excitement doesn't stop there! Brace yourself as internationally renowned circus performers take the stage, showcasing their extraordinary talents. Prepare to be spellbound by their impressive acrobatic displays, jaw dropping juggling acts, and mind-bending illusions that will leave you wondering in awe at their incredible feats. 

'Elmo's Circus Dream' is more than just a show – it's an immersive experience that ignites the imaginations of children, encourages self-expression, and teaches valuable life lessons in a fun and engaging way. Join Elmo and his Sesame Street friends as they transport you to a world where dreams truly come to life, where laughter and amazement await at every turn. Get ready to be dazzled as the magic of the circus unfolds before your eyes, leaving you with unforgettable memories and a renewed belief in the power of dreams. 

Scrunch, rip, twist, tear! 

Wednesday 3 July | 11:45am | GPAC Town Hall Theatre

How many things can you do with a piece of paper? This workshop is based on Bunraku-style puppetry, a traditional Japanese form of theatre which involves multiple puppeteers working closely together to operate one puppet. Workshop participants will start by making a unique puppet out of paper. They will then learn techniques for bringing their puppet to life, either as individuals or as a team. Each group will work on short performances which are presented to the group. Participants will leave the workshop with a range of performance skills, which can be applied to any kind of puppetry.  

Little Wing Puppets have facilitated workshops with thousands of young people in every state and territory of Australia, as well as overseas. They believe that young people deserve access to the arts, wherever they live. They’re passionate about passing on their skills so that children can learn to create their own worlds through puppetry. 

A Detective Story, told with Puppetry, where you help solve the case. 

Wednesday 3 July | 10:30am | GPAC Town Hall Theatre

A Little Bit of Blue is an interactive environmental detective story, told with puppetry. As well as unravelling a mystery, it involves learning about the unique habits of an extraordinary Australian animal, the Satin Bowerbird, and their fascination for the colour blue. It is a fun frolicking mix of Detective Noir, slapstick, with some interesting facts thrown in. 

Mavis’s world is turned upside-down by small disappearances. Something has gone missing and is nowhere to be found. Mrs Hooley has been looking everywhere. But it’s not just today. Every day a new thing seems to disappear. Little things. A $10 note. Clothes pegs. A ball of wool. It’s troubling at first, but the thief then takes it one step too far 

Mavis calls in a Detective to investigate.  The Detective, Harry McGee, an adorable fool, makes a mess of the investigation, and the children love always being one step of ahead of him. They set a trap for the burglar. A stake out is required. In the dead of night, and the Detective indeed finds something peculiar.... The children’s role is to help him solve the case. 

Jenny Ellis, a puppeteer of more than twenty years, weaves the whole mystery together, sometimes playing three characters at once. The young audience will gasp with surprise, sigh with the sadness, shout in outrage, cheer with triumph, and dance with joy as they follow the sneaky bowerbird on his journey to find love. 

A delightful show! Very clever and amusing – both for young and old. Jenny Ellis is clearly a very talented performer! Congratulations to all involved and thank you for a wonderfully engaging performance. 

~ Max, audience member, Northcote Kid’s Festival 

Keeping Aussie kids fit and heathy! An interactive and fun performance for children and families!

Tuesday 9 April | 11am | GPAC Little Theatre

Snowy is becoming more beautiful every day and The Wicked Queen is not happy! She has decided to send Snowy away, to get rid of her, once and for all. 

The Magic Mirror has warned The Queen this is a huge mistake – Snowy is beautiful on the inside and the outside- everyone loves her. The Queen isn’t listening and orders The Hunter from the Palace to take Snowy into the forest and leave her there forever!                  

Meanwhile, the Cool Dudes have decided it’s time they started making healthier food choices and doing some exercise.         

During this interactive production, kids will enjoy the opportunity of role-play as they are invited on stage to become a variety of characters- including The Cool Dudes- that love to rap! The off-stage action continues with singing and dancing for the rest of the audience. 

A timely piece of live theatre about making better food choices, while keeping kids fit and healthy! 

“...It is bright, colourful, happy and my kids were very entertained, they can’t stop talking about it. Bravo to all concerned, one thing-take some ear plugs as the kids become very, very excited”- Adelaide Fringe Festival 

A biological-musical-comedy-adventure — that explores the ins and outs of the human digestive system. 

Friday 25 October | 11am and 1:30pm | GPAC Main Theatre

It’s true! YOU are a great big fleshy lump with a remarkable hole running all the way through your middle — your digestive system. 

Join biology teachers Oesoph A. Gus and Dewey Dean as they embark upon an utterly brilliant all-singing, all-dancing (and all-clowning!) exploration of every twisting tube and remarkable organ — with sketches, songs, and sensational science. Along the way you’ll encounter a frenzy of enzyme-powered ping pong balls, sing along with a rainbow collection of poop puppets, and witness the weirdest poetry performance you’ve ever seen. 

You Are a Doughnut is a ‘riot of fun’ (The Clothesline) and a ‘sure winner for the whole family’ (Glam Adelaide) — presented by the ‘masters of educational entertainment’ (Play & Go).  

It’s a little bit gross — and a ‘hole’ lotta fun! (You might even learn something...). 

2023 Adelaide Fringe Festival Science at the Fringe Award 

2022 Adelaide Fringe Festival Weekly Award: Best Kids and Family 

★★★★★ “…a sure winner for the whole family.” - Glam Adelaide 

How to Catch a Star

Wednesday 12 June | 10:30am and 12pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Once there was a boy and the boy loved stars very much. 

Every night he watched the stars from his window and wished he had one of his own. 

One day, he decided he would try to catch a star… but first he had to think of a plan… 

Based on the book by international best-selling author Oliver Jeffers, How to Catch a Star is brand new ACO Families production which will take you on a journey from awe and wonder, through perseverance to triumph. 

In a stunning adaptation by Sandra Eldridge, Jeffers’ magical tale about reaching for dreams will be brought to life on stage through storytelling and exquisite new music by Elena Kats-Chernin performed by an ACO string quartet. This enchanting performance will leave audiences of all ages filled with hope and optimism. 

"The music was fabulous, the set was perfect, the script was terrific and the actor was marvellous. I couldn't speak more highly of the whole experience..." (ACO Audience Member) 

Join the ‘Rekindled Systems’ artists for a FREE interactive workshop experience delivering ancestral knowledge on music making, dance, language and poetry.

Sunday 19 November | 2pm | GPAC Little Theatre

Building on the cross-cultural offering of the live concert series, you will receive direct insight and instruction from Allara, Olenka Toroshenko, Monica Jasmine Karo, Culture Evolves, and Corey Theatre into their honed expressive techniques.  

 

Open to all ages and capabilities, the 3-hour workshop will seek to place you inside the art forms central to the expression of the artist’s culture and communities, passed down through age-old knowledge sharing and now offered to you.