Canberra Youth Theatre are presenting the Australian Premiere COCKROACH is a bold and confronting work about the challenges that teenagers face in a conflict ridden world. Five students are trapped in detention within a gated school.

Outside the school a long and bloody war is going on and starting to lap up onto the gates of their once safe sanctuary. Their teacher battles against all odds to educate them, teaching Darwin’s Survival of the Fittest. The class is pushed to the edge, being demanded to prepare for a future that may no longer actually exist.

Watch the YouTube trailer

The cast of six emerging actors are supported by emerging stage manager (Gemma Baker), emerging set and costume designer (Nevena Mrdjenovic), emerging lighting designer (Samantha Pickering) and emerging technical crew, in a work that will definitely exceed all expectations of what youth theatre is perceived to be about.

The production does contain some nudity and strong language and as a result, is not suitable for children under 12 years. This work is created by a senior cast and is for a mature audience.

Artistic Director, Karla Conway states

"This is a work that will definitely exceed all expectations and smash perceptions of what youth theatre is perceived to be about. These six extraordinary actors have fearlessly challenged themselves with this text, presenting a bold and sophisticated piece of work that truthfully represents life in a heightened expression of dramatic form.

"We need to stop thinking that youth theatre is only children’s theatre. These emerging artists are playing their own age–dealing with themes and material that are relevant and appropriate, though confronting. Canberra Youth Theatre has an extremely diverse program, developing our younger actors age seven to eighteen years, but also providing pathways into tertiary based training for our older actors aged eightenn to 25 years.

These actors have been working for a number of years at CYT to stretch themselves as performers and this piece sees the culmination of their journey thus far.

“If you don’t see any other theatre this year... Do not miss this.”

The production contain some nudity and strong language and as a result, is not suitable for children under twelve years. This work is created by a senior cast and is for a mature audience.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW: (02) 6248 5057

9 - 13 March @ 7:30pm
12th March @ 2pm & 7:30pm
C-Block Theatre - Gorman House Arts Centre
Canberra