Fairground to feature at fringe festival

Dramawerkz Youth Theatre chief executive Mia Boonen and cast members Amelia Barham, Angelina Army and Chloe prepare to perform Fairground at the Melbourne Fringe Festival next month. (Damjan Janevski) 428577_01

A group of local teens and young adults are preparing to bring the Melbourne Fringe Festival to Hobsons Bay.

Altona based youth theatre group Dramawerkz will debut their original production Fairground at the festival, from October 17 to 20, at the Louis Joel Community and Arts Centre.

A play about a teenager running away to the circus, Fairground was co-written and will be performed by Dramawerkz students, who, unsurprisingly, are teenagers themselves.

“It’s got big circus characters and a beautiful story about a teenager living life but also his big dreams and imagination,” said Dramawerkz chief executive Mia Boonen of what audiences can expect from the production.

“It’s got original music written by our teenagers and I guess for me it’s a story about coming of age and if you are a teenager or you know and love a teenager it’s a really important one to tell.”

A one-off performance of Fairground was held at the end of last year, but this will be their first time the students will be accompanied by a full band across multiple dates.

And while previous Dramawerkz productions have featured at the fringe and staff such as Boonen have performed at the festival numerous times, the thirteen cast members will be doing so for the first time.

“I think it’s amazing for them to perform something they’ve written in front of an audience,” said Boonen of what the students will get out of the experience.

“And also being part of such a big festival with so many amazing artists will be great for them as well.”

Details: www.dramwekz.com

Cade Lucas