Two performances of 'Matilda The Musical Jr' this month will help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Wangaratta Studio of Drama.
The shows will be held on Friday, 12 September from 6.30pm and Saturday, 13 September from 2pm at the Galen Performing Arts Centre, showcasing some of the city's passionate young actors.
Based on the beloved Roald Dahl novel, the musical tells the story of Matilda, a brilliant young girl with extraordinary powers, and her quest for justice against the tyrannical Miss Trunchbull; it's filled with vibrant songs, energetic performances and unforgettable characters.
The Wangaratta Studio of Drama was founded two decades ago by Galen College drama teacher Julie Nolan, who had previously been offering drama sessions through Pangerang Community House and classes with Yarrunga Primary School.
"I saw there was a need to offer something more for kids who loved drama, and an outlet for young people with creative talent," Julie said.
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"It was a chance to give kids confidence in a non-threatening environment; just as rewarding as watching the outgoing kids achieve has been watching the quiet ones grow in confidence and go from not wanting to be on stage to - within two or three years - taking on a lead role."
Julie said the drama classes helped participants learn how to express themselves and build people skills and resilience, as well as mix with students from other schools who may have similar interests.
"It's also very collaborative, so they get an idea, and then have to work together to work out how best to present it," she said.
Originally tailored to primary students, the studio expanded to cater for prep to year 12 students, as many young people were keen to continue beyond their primary years.
"Some of the kids are aiming to follow this as a career, so it's a great opportunity for them," Julie said.
Up to 25 shows have been produced over the studio's 20 years, with this month's 'Matilda Jr' to be the first full-scale production.
It is a condensed version of 'Matilda the Musical', featuring shortened versions of the songs from the original show.
The cast of 35 includes mostly senior students, as well as a number of younger studio members, with two casts set to perform the 70-minute 12 and 13 September shows.
"The kids are coming in for extra rehearsals, and are loving the experience," Julie said.
Tickets for the Wangaratta Studio of Drama's presentation of 'Matilda Jr' are available via Trybooking.com
