Forge Youth Theatre

🎭 Why Do We Make Our Own Masks and Props? 🎭

At Forge Youth Theatre, students don’t simply receive everything they need for a performance—they help create it.

Designing and constructing masks and props gives young people an opportunity to:
🎨 express their own ideas
🧠 solve practical creative problems
🤝 collaborate with others
🎭 understand how design supports character and story
✨ feel genuine ownership of the finished work

When a student performs with something they have imagined and made themselves, it carries an extra sense of meaning and pride.

The finished object matters—but so does everything learned along the way.

Interested in joining Forge this term? Term 3 enrolments remain open for young people aged 5–14.

Send us a direct message or email [email protected] for details.

🎨 Meet the Makers 🎨

Behind every theatrical world are artists willing to imagine, experiment and create.

Throughout Term 3, our young theatre-makers are designing masks and props that will eventually become part of their performance work.

Each creation is different because each student brings their own:
✨ ideas
✨ interests
✨ problem-solving
✨ sense of character
✨ creative style

The process can be messy, surprising and sometimes challenging—but that is all part of making theatre.

We love seeing students take ownership of their ideas and discover the satisfaction of turning simple materials into something uniquely theirs. 🎭

There is still time to join our Term 3 ensembles:

🌿 Embers & Kindling — Ages 5–11
Thursdays | 5:30–7:00 pm

🔥 Flame — Ages 12–14
Tuesdays | 7:00–9:00 pm

Send us a direct message or email [email protected] for enrolment details.

Fancy stepping onto the stage and becoming part of Bendigo Theatre Company’s 2026 Pantomime?

Auditions are now open, and this could be your chance to join the fun! Panto is all about big characters, plenty of laughs, audience interaction and a little bit of theatrical chaos — oh yes it is!

Whether you’re an experienced performer or looking to give community theatre a go, we love seeing opportunities for people to get involved, build their skills and experience the magic of creating a show together.

🎭 Check out the shared post for audition dates, requirements and all the details on how to get involved.

Chookas to everyone auditioning! 🔥✨

🌟 Audition registrations are open for Rapunzel! 🎭✨

Ready to let down your hair and join Bendigo Theatre Company’s next pantomime adventure?

📋 All the information you need, including dates/times, fees, character information and how to register, is available on the Rapunzel page of the BTC website.

👉 Check out the details and register your audition today!
https://www.bendigotheatrecompany.org.au/season-2026-2/rapunzel-panto/

🏰✨ Rapunzel is coming to Bendigo... and we need YOU!

🎭 From Paper to Performance 🎭

Every character begins with an idea.

This week at Forge Youth Theatre, our students are moving from their initial sketches into the mask-making process—transforming drawings into three-dimensional theatrical creations.

As they build their masks, students are experimenting with shape, texture and expression while considering an important question:

Who is this character, and how will they move?

Theatre is about much more than learning lines. It brings together acting, design, storytelling and creative problem-solving—and every new layer takes these characters one step closer to performance.

We can’t wait to see what emerges! 🔥

✨ Term 3 enrolments remain open. Send Forge Youth Theatre a direct message or email [email protected] for details.

🎭 Thinking about getting involved in Bendigo Theatre Company's 2026 Pantomime?

This Thursday is your chance to find out what it's all about!

Whether you're interested in performing on stage, helping behind the scenes, or simply curious about being part of a community theatre production, the Pantomime Info Night is the perfect place to start.

Meet the creative team, learn more about the production, ask questions, and discover the many ways you can get involved.

Community theatre isn't just about performing—it's about making new friends, learning new skills, and creating something special together.

Check out the shared post for all the details. We hope to see plenty of new faces getting involved in local theatre! 🎭✨

👑 Behind every great pantomime is a magical team... Meet the creatives behind Rapunzel!

• Director: Alicia Gunston
• Musical Director: Thomas Moore
• Assistant Musical Director: Renée Boland
• Choreographer: Alise Amarant
• Stage Manager: Zee Bell
• Production Manager: Blythe Porter

✨ Are you ready to let down your hair? Come along to the Rapunzel production information evening to meet the team, hear their vision for the show, and find out everything you need to know before auditions. Everyone is welcome.

📅 Thursday 6 August
🕡 6:30 pm
📍 Bendigo Theatre Company

Bring your questions and your enthusiasm. We can't wait to share the magic of Rapunzel with you!

🎭 Ever wanted to be part of an original theatre production?

Our friends at Bendigo Theatre Company are holding their TENx10 Casting Night on Wednesday 26 August, and it's a fantastic opportunity to get involved in local theatre.

What is TENx10?
TENx10 is a season of ten original 10-minute plays, written by local playwrights and brought to life by local directors and performers.

The casting night is a relaxed, fun evening where you'll hear the plays read aloud and can put your hand up to read for any that interest you.

✨ It's not an audition.
🎭 No experience is necessary.
🙌 Just bring yourself and be willing to have a go!

Whether you're an experienced performer or curious about stepping onto the stage for the first time, this is a wonderful way to become part of Bendigo's thriving theatre community.

Check out the shared post for all the details. Break a leg to everyone involved! 🔥

🚨 DATE CHANGE! TENx10 CASTING NIGHT 🎭

Our TENx10 casting night has moved!

📅 NEW DATE: Wednesday 26 August at 6:30pm at BTC

Come along, hear the ten original plays, and if one catches your attention, put your hand up to read for it!

🎭 It’s not an audition.
✨ No experience necessary.
🙌 Just bring yourself and a willingness to have a go!

Directors will be watching all the reads, potential cast can nominate their preferred plays, and directors will nominate their preferred cast. Then we match, negotiate and make some theatre!

Wednesday 26 August. See you there! 🎭

🎭 Could This Be Your Child? 🎭

Imagine your child...

✨ creating original characters

🎭 building confidence

🤝 making new friends

🎨 expressing their creativity

🌟 discovering talents they didn't know they had

That's what we see every week at Forge Youth Theatre.

If your young person has ever been curious about drama, we'd love to welcome them.

🌿 Embers & Kindling (Ages 5–11)
📅 Thursdays | 5:30–7:00 pm

🔥 Flame (Ages 12–14)
📅 Tuesdays | 7:00–9:00 pm

📍 Bendigo

Last day to audition!

⏰ TODAY IS THE FINAL DAY TO SUBMIT YOUR AUDITION 🍫🎭

If you've been meaning to submit your audition but haven't quite finished your video, please send us a message today. We'd love to hear from you and are happy to answer any questions or help with the submission process.

🎥 Your video audition should include:
🎤 A short introduction
🎵 A musical theatre song (under 1 minute)
🎭 A monologue (under 1 minute)

All audition information and submissions can be found at:
🌐 www.emilycalder.com.au

We're so excited to see the amazing talent from across our community and can't wait to start watching your auditions.

Good luck to everyone, we're looking forward to seeing you shine ✨🍫

🎭 A Place to Belong ❤️

Some students arrive bursting with confidence.

Others arrive quietly, wondering if they'll fit in.

At Forge Youth Theatre, every young person is welcomed, encouraged and supported to grow at their own pace.

The friendships formed through creating theatre together are often just as important as the performances themselves.

That's what makes Forge special.

❤️

🎭 Behind Every Mask 🎭

Have you ever noticed how a mask changes the way someone moves?

Without relying on facial expressions, performers discover new ways to communicate through posture, movement and gesture.

Throughout this term our students are exploring exactly that—learning how physical theatre helps tell powerful stories.

It's amazing to watch each mask develop its own personality.