Junior Theatre Festival Australia will move to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from October 2027, providing room to expand after ten years at Newcastle’s Civic Theatre. The relocation will allow the festival to grow from its current annual capacity of approximately 1,400 participants to more than 5,000 annually in the years ahead, although here’s hoping that those in Newcastle don’t suddenly miss out in its entirety. Pitched as the Southern Hemisphere’s largest celebration of young people in musical theatre, the event brings together participants from across Australia for performances, workshops and industry activities.
The festival’s program includes Broadway Junior adjudications, student workshops and masterclasses, alongside showcases of new musicals. Pilot programs also support the development of new Australian musicals. Teachers can take part in professional development workshops, masterclasses and keynote events, while celebrity guest performances and networking opportunities form part of the broader program.
The Australian event belongs to a global network of Junior Theatre Festivals held in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand. It works closely with theatrical licensing organisation Music Theatre International Australasia to celebrate Broadway Junior musicals.
Daniel Stoddart, producer at OzTheatrics, said the move reflects growth in youth musical theatre, with Victoria accounting for more than half of Australia’s Broadway Junior licences.
At a time when parts of the professional theatre industry face ongoing challenges and uncertainty, youth musical theatre in Australia is experiencing extraordinary growth.
Schools, academies and community organisations across Australia continue to embrace musical theatre at unprecedented levels, with Broadway Junior™ productions becoming increasingly popular and accessible for young performers. With more than 50% of Broadway Junior licenses in Australia presented in Victoria, we know that the move to Melbourne will be a welcomed one by musical theatre fans.
Stuart Hendricks, Managing Director of Music Theatre International Australasia, further added the festival’s growth reflects the involvement of teachers, schools and students in musical theatre.
Broadway Junior has transformed the way young Australians engage with musical theatre. The growth of Junior Theatre Festival Australia reflects the passion of teachers, schools and students across the country, and Melbourne provides the perfect platform for the festival’s next stage of growth.
More information on Junior Theatre Festival can be found on the event’s official website.
