Youth pave the way at Gemco

 

Early this year I made my way into Emerald in the Dandenong Ranges on a Wednesday night for rehearsal with Gemco Players for their April production of Bouncers and Shakers, when I pulled up into the car park I was surprised to discover the place was teeming with what seemed to be the whole population of Emerald and the surrounding district. After making enquiries with a few familiar faces, I was surprised and impressed to discover this huge community event was just a regular Wednesday night at Gemco Youth Theatre.

 

For three decades, many Gemco members have volunteered their time and knowledge to teach theatre craft to local young people. It started in April 1981, when a group of ten teenagers in the Gemco Youth program performed a one-act play Rest In Peace, as part of a Gemco Double Bill. The show was Directed and Produced by one of Gemco's founding members, then 16-year-old Mandy McGarrigle.

 

There are currently three groups each Wednesday - Junior, Intermediate and Senior Youth that cater for young people from Prep to Yr 12, with over 70 members in these groups at present. Currently the groups are working on presenting various one act plays as part of the Dandenong Ranges One Act Play Festival that run from 16-18 July at Gemco’s brand new theatre ‘The Gem’.  Later in the year the three groups will be joining together to perform a musical version of The Snow Queen which is being written and Directed by leaders of the three groups.

 

The focus of the groups is on developing theatre skills both on and off stage. Participants are involved in all kinds of activities from theatre games, voice and movement work, character development, improvisation and the chance to read scripts and to perform on stage, all the while building confidence and social skills and creating a unique sense of community culture and belonging, invaluable to future personal development.

 

As well as performance skills, participants are encouraged to (and often do) try their hand at writing their own plays, Directing, Set Design and construction, lighting and sourcing costumes and props. The group members are also encouraged to be involved in shows that the adult company Gemco Players is producing and once they are in their mid to late teens, to take part in running the Junior and Intermediate youth groups themselves.

 

Many of Gemco's Youth members recently made appearances with adult cast members in the productions of Honk! and Wind in the Willows and the current Gemco committee has three adult members who were once part of the Youth program themselves!

 

The cost to participate in Gemco Youth is $50 per term which covers the cost of hiring the space and any plays that are produced. The Junior and Intermediate groups are currently full but anyone interested in this amazing community organisation can add their name to a waiting list. Senior Youth (for students from Year 8 -12) currently has some places available.

 

 

Gemco Youth Theatre prides itself on offering a cheap option for young people in the local area to build skills, develop confidence and meet often life long friends who share a common interest. For enquiries check out Gemco’s website http://gemcoplayers.org/category/youth-groups/