The much loved comical, mind-blowing, and wildly entertaining theatrical showcase, the Burdekin Interschool Drama Festival, will grace the Burdekin Theatre’s stage on 31 May for its 49th year.
Each of the region’s secondary schools; Ayr State High School, Home Hill State High School, Burdekin Catholic High School, and the Burdekin Christian College are set to perform a one act play in a non-competitive environment to showcase their talents to audiences.
The Burdekin Interschool Drama Festival stands as an annual event hosted by Home Hill High School, and organised by Home Hill High School’s Drama Coordinator, Wendy Viero.
“The Burdekin Interschool Drama festival isn’t a competition, it’s an amazing showcase where the schools can put on a fun performance for over 400 patrons,” explained Wendy.
“The students not only act, but they often produce the pieces, direct them, and they also have the opportunity to run the sound and lighting for their performances under the guidance of the theatre technical staff which is a fantastic and unique opportunity for the students to use the professional equipment with advice from theatre professionals.”
Scheduling around many of the regions celebrated cultural events, the Burdekin Interschool Drama Festival had been postponed to the 31 May for 2024 rather than running earlier in the year.
“Everything has been running smoothly and having to push the event back to a later date, our students have had a lot more time to rehearse and prepare for a fantastic show,” shared Wendy.
Although a non-competitive showcase, students’ talents are celebrated with awards for the best actors, supporting actors, and directors and the 2024 Interschool Drama Festival will debut a memorial award in honor of the late Barry Jones.
“Barry jones was a gentleman who had been involved with theatre in the Burdekin for many years, and after receiving funding from the Burdekin Theatre last year, we now have a prize dedicated to his memory called the Barry Jones Award,” explained Wendy.
Wendy and the Burdekin Interschool Drama Festival’s organisational committee have been busily preparing for the end of May event, and the community is invited to come along and witness each of the school’s extraordinary talents.
WHAT: Burdekin Interschool Drama Festival
WHEN: Friday 31 May 6:30pm
WHERE: Burdekin Theatre
COST: $25
