Nothing shy about this lot....
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Once upon a time a special person from the Southern Highlands had a dream.
The person's name was Jan Howe.
Her dream was to create a platform for performers, young performers: "Art by young people, for young people".
That dream has endured beyond her passing and now, in 2019, SHYAC is 28 years young.
It has seen more than a handful of totally committed directors, creative directors, managers, and committees and is now under the guiding hand and light of the thoroughly splendid Mandy Bransgrove.
SHYAC - Southern Highlands Youth Arts Council - is an astonishing mix of ages of actors, dancers, performers, musicians, lighting folk and design folk.
This is complemented with a heady mix of volunteers who market, sew costumes and build and paint sets.
It is magical, and like another young people's entity in our Highlands I have written about, Vocal Muster, created by renowned Opera Singer and teacher Richard Lane.
SHYAC not only trains up talent, but gives purpose to our younger practitioners, our future who are aged from eight to 18.
It ensures that isolation doesn't occur and puts these kids - if I may use this word - in an environment where they are able to be with others like themselves.
It is also no surprise that Mandy Bransgrove also works with performers with a disability.
This is beyond good. It can be transformative and enchanting.
The recent production of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe from the classic Narnia Tales by C.S.Lewis is testimony to not only the remarkable number of talented young practitioners in our region, but to the faith and commitment of those who make the world of theatre possible.
In this instance this faith and commitment comes from directors of the production, Monique Barrios and Alex Perritt, and the legion of professionals who make the world of SHYAC possible.
That legion of professionals are too numerous to mention here with my limited word count - but I could write a book.
Kids, families, extended family, friends are joined together in these stand-out young people's productions, and for my money are up there with the best in Australia.
"The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe" was, simply put, beautiful, full of the deep magic, courageous in its vision and brave.
The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe was, simply put, beautiful, full of the deep magic, courageous in its vision and brave.
- Dave Letch
Add to this, the sheer, capital letters THEATRE of the giant puppet of ASLAN the Lion, who breaks the vile and evil spell of the White Witch, was masterfully operated and beautifully voiced.
It was a herculean effort even for the best.
I loved it, and I also loved the previous SHYAC production of The Addam's Family.
The energy for both productions zinging and zipping off the stage and hanging over the audience like a marvelous, luminous spell and the joy from those most excellent young'uns was palpable.
The work of the theatre can often be underrated, underfunded or simply not understood.
Speak of 'The Arts" and immediately arts visual and musical vie for first place.
For me it should be an amalgam and theatre should be, must be supported, particularly financially from our local base.
It creates community, purpose, removes self-doubt and lack of self-esteem for the young.
It can also transport an audience of any age, with productions delightful or confronting, to a place that at times is not unlike church.
In the truest sense of the word. Being together. Breathing as one, if even for a moment and enriching all those who inhabit the same space and time for an hour or two.
Jan Howe's vision was the vision splendid: growing the new.
Long live the children.
Long live SHYAC.
