Outback Theatre for Young People is based in Deniliquin in south-west NSW, but services a large area to the west and north. They've been going since 1989 but only became a dedicated youth theatre company in 2006.

OTYP took a group of young performers from Barham, on the NSW/Victorian border, to Sydney in 2008 and members of Zeal were blown away by their talent and commitment. Now they're teaming up with Zeal Theatre and Golden Rivers Theatre Group to present a school holiday workshop and performance series in Barham this April.

The program will kick off with a performance of Zeal Theatre's show, The Table.

In 2009, a year 9 boy from an Australian high school was killed in a playground brawl. The Table was created to ask how such a violent death could occur. It tells the story of a group of Year 9 and Year 11 students who wage a comic and ultimately disastrous war over the use of a table in their playground. 

Full-On Theatre’s writer/performer Dave Houston created the work for high school students and with Zeal Theatre actor/writers Angela Frost and Richie Hallal, and through a series of workshops with Year 8 high school students around Victoria, The Table was developed, written and rehearsed as a touring production for years 8-12 in late 2009.

The play is a fast-paced, exciting and powerful story of home, friendship and violence where three dynamic actors play an entire population of school students, teachers and parents.

The young people who attend the workshops in Barham this April will have the chance to witness the extraordinary and inventive work of Zeal Theatre, and then work over eight days with artists Dave Houston, Angela Frost and Richie Hallal to create their own work.

They will act, create, invent and learn from some of Australia’s best theatre makers and the workshops promise to be fun, dynamic and creative. Everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary.

Zeal will perform at the Golden Rivers Theatre, Faulkner Pavilion, Barham Recreation Reserve, Gonn St, Barham on Tuesday 6 April at 11am. Tickets $2.

The performance will be followed by a workshop open to all ages from 1.30pm to 2.30pm. Workshops will continue from 10.30am to 12.30pm for ages 8 to 11 and 2.00pm to 4.00pm for ages 12+ from Wednesday 7 April to Friday 9 April and Monday 12 April to Thursday 15 April.

Young people will perform their new work to family and friends at 6.30pm on Thursday 15 April, followed by a barbeque.

For more information or to book a place in the workshops contact Suzanne Hauser at Outback Theatre for Young People. Phone: 0438 398 629 or Email.