Square Pegged

🌟 Date: Saturday, October 7
⏰ Time: 7 pm
📍 Location: Swan Hill Town Hall

Be part of history as fifty young people from rural Australia create an exciting new ensemble work in just seven days, exploring the question: What is Normal? Witness their inspiring performance that challenges the norm.

What is Square Pegged

Square Pegged is a groundbreaking theatrical work devised by 50+ young people from rural Australia. Through ongoing interviews, it challenges the concept of "normal" and celebrates the rich tapestry of identity and community in the Murray Mallee. With verbatim storytelling, music, multimedia, and movement, this 60-minute performance captures a pivotal moment on Earth. It showcases the resilience of young leaders driving change in the Mallee and reclaims narratives often overlooked in rural communities.

Our central question

What is Normal?

Are you normal? What are the typically normal things you do? What is the not-so-normal stuff you do? Is 'normal' what we should aspire to? Or is there something beyond normal? Who makes our norms? If somebody created the norms, and each of us is somebody, then perhaps we can make a new normal that includes anybody, perhaps even everybody. This is the question that underpins the Fairfax Youth Festival in 2023.

Are you a creative teenager from rural NSW, South Australia or Victoria? Be part of something big, and apply now for Square Pegged

Meg Richardson, a Fairfax Youth Associate from Gol Gol in the Sunraysia District

“Square Pegged participants will engage in a dynamic blend of workshops, interactive activities, and rehearsals culminating in an original performance. This performance will reflect each individual's distinctive voice and perspective and provide a money can’t buy opportunity for young people in the region.”

Engaging and connecting over 50 young people
from rural Australia

A new original work conceived, created and performed by young people

Our young people come from schools, including
St Mary MacKillop Swan Hill, Mildura Specialist School, Irymple Secondary College, Balranald Central School, St Joseph’s College Mildura, Swan Hill College, Marian College Ararat, Ararat College, Broken Hill High School, Chaffey Secondary, and Tyrrell College.

Reigniting   the Marruk Ensemble

First Nations Youth will create a key component of Square Pegged

We are helping to reignite the award-winning Marruk Project, a First Nations-led youth theatre initiative born in the Mallee in 2009

This initiative strengthens culture and creates opportunities for Elders, young people, and community members to share their histories. We are excited to support Bayden Clayton, an original member of Marruk and now a highly regarded youth leader in the community, to reignite and further develop this sustainable cultural thread for young people in the Murray-Mallee.

Bayden Clayton (27) Creative Producer of the Marruk Project & Fairfax Youth Associate

"Marruk aims to enhance cultural bonds and promote intergenerational connections within the community by embracing the tradition of storytelling. This endeavour will involve young artists working alongside Elders and experienced Aboriginal facilitators to create and practice performances rooted in Indigenous heritage. Additionally, participants will engage in a range of Fairfax Festival workshops and immersive experiences."

Square Pegged will be made in collaboration with a swag of extraordinary professional artists who will mentor and support the young people throughout the experience.

The experience will be led by lead artist Laura Burzacott, an actor and musician based in Townsville, originally from Ballarat. Laura has been a facilitator with the Fairfax Youth Festival since 2018, and in 2019, she led a major community activation, ‘Songs in the Key of Fairfax.’ She is the Artistic Director of the Bright Cabaret Festival and is deeply committed to rural and regional Australia.

The Marruk Project will be supported and mentored by Angela Frost, the award-winning community producer and artist, alongside original members of the Marruk Ensemble and creative producer Bayden Clayton. Laura, Bayden and Angela will be supported by a swag of professional artists who will act as mentors and support throughout the experience:

  • Rinske Ginsberg

    Living Legend of Melbourne Fringe & Former Head of Movement at the Victorian College of the Arts

  • Nate Gilkes

    Helpman Award-Winning Music Director, Composer & Theatre Visionary

  • Fleur Kilpatrick

    Award-Winning Writer & Artistic Director of Riverland Youth Theatre

  • Lachlan Woods

    Star of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Theatre, Film and TV Actor,

  • Christian Leavesley

    Artistic Director of Arena Theatre Company

  • Chelsea Zeller

    Comedian, Improvisor, Writer, Film Maker & Actor

  • Imparja Pettit

    Marruk Project Director, Didgeridoo player, Aboriginal Educator & Alumnus of the Fairfax Youth Festival and The Marruk Project

  • Laura Burzacott

    Actor, Singer, Cabaret & Theatre Maker

  • Angela Frost

    Multi-award winning community cultural development artist and theatre maker.

  • Morgan Rose

    Artistic Director Rawcus Theatre

  • Nikita Morganson

    Contemporary Indigenous Artist, Cultural Facilitator and Storyteller

  • Mark Leahy

    Percussionist, Musician, Sound Designer & Community Artist

  • Michal Hughes

    Creative Producer from D’Faces and Drama Tutor

  • Kat Kats

    Writer, Curator, & Theatre Maker

  • Kayla Hamil

    Clown, Comedian, & Theatre Making Superstar

  • Michael Gosden

    Award-winning filmmaker, director, producer

  • Alysha Herrmann

    Creative producer, writer, performance-maker and community organiser

  • Anthony Crowley

    Multi-award-winning playwright, composer, director, designer, dramaturge and educator.

  • Bryce Ives

    Director, Theatre Maker, Broadcaster & Artistic Director of the Fairfax Youth Festival

  • Jo Porter

    Theatre Producer, administrator and the CEO of Regional Arts Victoria

Imagine the Swan Hill Town Hall as you've never experienced it before –

An immersive and passionate new ensemble work that will ignite the senses and get the heart beating.

An extraordinary fusion of creativity and culture .
Don't miss Square Pegged.

Square Pegged

🌟 Date: Saturday, October 7
⏰ Time: 7 pm
📍 Location: Swan Hill Town Hall

Be part of history as fifty young people from rural Australia create an exciting new ensemble work in just seven days, exploring the question: What is Normal? Witness their inspiring performance that challenges the norm.