Two young performers from the Orana Region are heading to Sydney for an exciting two-day Ensemble Theatre residency in late October.

Dubbo’s Reed Quill and Trangie’s Sophia Hayden are preparing to gain invaluable first-hand industry experience from the residency.

Ensemble Theatre Connections (ETC) is a pilot project and partnership between Ensemble Theatre and our own region's Orana Arts Inc (part of the regional Arts Network of NSW).

Reed and Sophia will participate in industry masterclasses such as script writing and acting, observing rehearsals and the upcoming Ensemble production of "Fly Girl", including meeting the cast and creative team for more insights and industry advice.

The two will join seven other emerging theatre-makers to create a small performance of their own and watch a performance of "Fly Girl". Developed with Camilla Ward, Creative Producer (Touring and Youth), and Alicia Rodriguez Leggett, Executive Director of Orana Arts, this program is aimed at creating meaningful opportunities for young people in regional areas with a passion for theatre and creative dreams in the arts industry.

Nine participants aged 16-24 years (1-2 participants from each region) from Dubbo, Griffith, Cessnock, Goulburn and Wagga are involved in a structured five-block program focused on performance, conversation, and professional development. The five dynamic blocks are held throughout the year.

Participants have experienced Ensemble's touring production of The Queen's Nanny in their region and met together online for a series of mentorship and industry insights to develop creative ideas and explore theatrical storytelling.

Mentors included Ensemble's Artistic Director Mark Kilmurray, and The Queen's Nanny playwright Melanie Tate.

An undergraduate in English and Theatre Studies at the University of Melbourne, Sophia Hayden applied for the ETC program to further immerse herself into the theatre and arts world, specifically in her area of interest, theatre criticism.

“Growing up in rural New South Wales, theatre and the arts are so often dismissed as 'unimportant'. However, this ethos cannot be further from the truth," Sophia said.

"Theatre and storytelling are such incredible mechanisms to catalyse change, holding the power to dismantle systemic forces of oppression, to represent histories, cultures and lived experiences, and overall, to increase inclusion, all through entertainment.

"This is something that I and many young Australians are deeply passionate about,” she added.

As a strong supporter of the program, Sophia believes it will bring great benefits.

“I believe this program can help immerse otherwise geographically-isolated Australians into the rich and multifaceted world of theatre, allowing our stories to be told," she said.

"As part of this program, we participate in an immersive residency in Sydney in late October. For me, I am particularly excited to develop my theatre criticism skills through meeting with professionals in the field, through gaining a more holistic understanding of the artistic decisions that impact theatre practically, and through watching performances myself," Sophia added.

"This is such a fantastic program, especially given it is only in its pilot year. Through this program, I have not only had the opportunity to engage with like-minded individuals in the other young, emerging theatre enthusiasts, but have also gained connections in the theatre industry.”

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ETC has been made possible through the partnership of Ensemble Theatre and Orana Arts, with the support of Eastern Riverina Arts, Western Riverina Arts, Southern Tablelands Arts, Arts Upper Hunter, Cessnock Rotary, and venue partners including Dubbo Regional Theatre & Convention Centre (DRTCC), Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Performing Arts Centre Cessnock (PACC), Griffith Regional Theatre, and Goulburn Performing Arts Centre (GPAC).