Western Edge Youth Arts is a non-profit organisation established to provide positive arts and performance experiences to young people from different cultural and social backgrounds living in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Projects are managed in community contexts and in schools projects.

WEYA celebrates cultural and linguistic diversity, and through the communicative power of artwork and performance, works with young people to enhance their artistic, communicative and problem solving skills. The acquisition of these skills empowers young people educationally and socially. As they grow in respect for themselves and others, they become ambassadors for a socially just and harmonious society.

We value the empowerment of all young people, particularly those facing social and cultural marginalisation, through

Access to quality arts experiences

The creation of artistic works that have an authentic youth voice

With commitment to

Innovation in youth arts and education

Professionalism and accountability, and

Social justice

Explosion and Escalade

Western Edge Youth Arts is offering two programs for young people who are interested in making original theatre: Explosion and Escalade.

Explosion enables emerging artists to pursue their area of interest in performance. Young artists (16 - 26 years old) are invited to pitch their ideas to the Explosion panel, articulating the ideas they wish to explore, the roles for each person in the project and the support they require. Applications are open to individual artists, or groups. Up to two projects will be selected for development. Applications close Monday May 25th. Mentorships run from June 1st to August 22nd.

Please contact Cymbeline for application guidelines or to discuss your ideas cymbeline@westernedge.org.au, 9091 4716 or 0450 105 950.

Escalade is a ten week course exploring a wide range of approaches to making new performance work. Topics covered include writing for theatre, sound design, storytelling, character development, group devising, structure, movement, puppetry and autobiographical theatre. Escalade is designed to suit a wide range of experience levels from complete beginners to those with some experience of taking part in and/or leading performance projects.
Escalade runs for ten weeks Wednesday 17th June to Wednesday 19th August 6 – 9pm at Phoenix, 72 Buckley Street Footscray. Cost for ten weeks: $50

Please contact Cymbeline to register: cymbeline@westernedge.org.au, 9091 4716.

Searching for Lear

Teenagers Edmund and Edgar set out to search for a lost mother. On a strange journey into the night they encounter two old men who tell them a story of a mad King, his Fool and his power-hungry sisters.

Powerful, multicultural theatre from Flemington young people that takes Shakespeare's Lear, Beckett's Waiting for Godot and combines them in a hilarious and moving roller coaster ride to nowhere.

Thursday 7th and Friday 8th May @ 7pm

Phoenix Youth Centre, 72 Buckley St, Footscray

Thursday 14th May @7pm

Flemington Community Centre

25 Mount Alexander Road, Flemington.