Young voices shaping Monkey Baa

We believe young people should have a say in the stories made for them. That’s why our Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is so important. The council empowers young people to share their voices, gain theatre experience and build arts career skills, while making sure everything we create stays relevant to young audiences.

Our younger YAC includes students from Bankstown West Public School, who we’ve been working with for many years. These students advise us on creative decisions, attend rehearsals and performances and share their honest thoughts about what excites them on stage. Their insights have shaped some of our most loved productions.

When we were developing Edward the Emu, students from Bankstown West were instrumental in bringing the story to life. They helped us understand what parts of the book were funniest, what scenes felt most important and how Edward and Edwina should move and behave. Their ideas fed directly into the staging, design and performance choices, helping us create a show that truly captured the humour and heart the Australian classic.

For The Duck and the Darklings, the students helped us build the set and creative world of the production using recycled materials. We brought in early design sketches and then worked alongside them as they created their own versions of the set out of recycled cardboard, paper and everyday items. They thought about what the world of Peterboy and the Duck would look and feel like, and their creations inspired our team to think differently about design. Their questions and ideas challenged us to make the world feel magical, hopeful and full of possibility.

Beyond individual productions, the students at Bankstown West keep us connected to what young people are thinking about, laughing at and dreaming of. Their creativity, honesty and curiosity make Monkey Baa stronger. They remind us why we do what we do – to create theatre that celebrates and amplifies the voices of young people.

We can’t wait to keep creating with them and seeing where their ideas take us next.