Empire Theatre Projects Company

Enriching and empowering our community through the performing arts

In 2009 the Empire Theatre established its Projects Company to increase the breadth and depth of the community’s connection with the performing arts in the Toowoomba Regional Council area.

Since then the Projects Company has launched a number of initiatives to bring this about and, at the core of this, is creating opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds throughout the Toowoomba Regional Council area to engage with the performing arts. This video, produced by Arts Queensland, highlights a number of these initiatives.

Empire Youth Arts

In 2010 the Empire Theatre Projects Company established Empire Youth Arts to house a variety of youth related arts programs including term classes, holiday workshops, in-school and regional workshops and specialist programs.

The program is headed up by Empire Youth Arts Director, Claire Christian, a qualified Secondary Teacher and award winning playwright who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position.

Professional Development

A wide range of other initiatives also sit under the Projects Company banner including extensive Professional Development courses for teachers, community performances and artist development opportunities.

Homegrown Series

In its second year, the Homegrown Series has quickly established itself as the region's premier platform to present adventurous, unearthed and edgy performance. Presented by the Projects Company, the Homegrown Series will offer a mixture of Australian dramas, new works and independent productions. Check out what's on in the 2013 Homegrown Series.

Show You Show Me - A Collaborative Performance Project

Over a number of weeks in February and March 2013, the Empire Theatre, Mercy Family Services and the African Community of Toowoomba, with the support of an Australia Council Community Partnerships Grant, partnered to create and develop the BAKUBA Entertainment Group of African Young Performers. Artists worked with the performers in order to develop performance and presentation skills. The group showcased their efforts on Saturday 9 March at the Multicultural Fashion Parade held at Grand Central Toowoomba and on Thursday 21 March at the Empire Church Theatre as part of the Harmony Day celebrations.

Indigenous Dance Project

In 2011 the Projects Company established its inaugural Indigenous Dance Project, offering hip hop and contemporary dance workshops to youth in the Toowoomba region. The workshops were facilitated by members of the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts in Brisbane. The Oakey Reconciliation Group, Whaddup, Rockville State Primary and Harristown State High Schools all participated in the workshops.

This year, Brisbane-based choreographer, Gabriel Comerford, has been working with all the students at Rockville State Primary School.

For more information about the opportunities and initiatives currently being undertaken by the Empire Theatre Projects Company contact Projects Manager Jeanette Wedmaier on 07 4698 9900 or jeanette@empiretheatre.com.au.