As the 2022 school year draws to a close, we’re looking forward to bringing back the glitz and glamour of the foil curtain and celebrating another huge year with the best and brightest teen voices.
Watch the live-stream
About
Witness an inspiring line-up of young readers and performers, including the winner of the 2022 Plain English Speaking Award and the winner of the Kill Your Darlings School Writing Prize, alongside emerging comedians, actors and poets. We’re bringing you the most vibrant teen voices from a year spent showcasing exceptional new talent, alongside crowd favourites from previous galas. Prepare to be uplifted – the future is in great hands.
Alongside the Gala event, teens have the opportunity to participate in a series of free workshops, designed to build onstage confidence, generate new writing and connect with publication opportunities.
The Wheeler Education Teen Gala and associated workshops are generously supported by George and Rosa Morstyn. The Wheeler Centre’s programming for young audiences is generously supported The Hon. Justice Michelle Gordon AC and The Hon. Kenneth Hayne AC QC.
Want to present in this year’s Teen Gala, or know a teen who would? Get in touch with us at Bec.Kavanagh@wheelercentre.com.
The event will be live-streamed on this page and will be viewable from 5pm on 10 December 2022.
Tickets
You have the option to pay what you can for this for this event. As a guide, the suggested price is $15, although any amount will help cover our costs and keep these events accessible. Bookings are essential.
The event will be live-streamed on this page and will be viewable from 5pm on 10 December 2022.
Accessibility
You can learn more about the Wheeler Centre’s accessibility policies here. Please notify us of all access requirements when booking online so we can assist you with your visit. If you require further information, please contact reception on 03 9094 7800 or ticketing@wheelercentre.com.
Featuring
Anna Blinks-van Broekhoven is a young disability advocate and mobility aid user, particularly focused on the lack of adequate accessible public transport in Victoria. She has done theatre all her life and otherwise loves painting and spending time with her three cats.
Poppy Holden is a Year 9 student from Melbourne.
She won the Stonnington ‘What’s Your Story?’ competition in 2019 and 2021, and the VATE ‘A Story in Miniature’ in 2022. If she’s not reading or writing, she’ll be at the beach, spending time with animals or roller-skating.
Alice is a 14 year old Melbourne student. She enjoys reading and learning random information. They are very excited to perform!
Erin Kim has used art and storytelling as a form of expression of her thoughts and ideas. Especially about her identity and the world around her. In 2021 her paintings Acceptance and Belonging were showcased at Top Arts, exploring how one’s environment affects their thoughts and perceptions of... Read more
Charlie Mackenzie is a 15 year old musical theatre performer, she also writes acoustic folk and rock music. Charlie is in love with 80’s music and grew up with artists like Queen, Stevie Wonder, Tears for Fears and Kate Bush however she takes much inspiration from modern artists like Phoebe Bridge... Read more
Audrey McKenzie is a 17-year-old year 11 student with a longtime passion for writing and literature. After winning the 2022 Kill Your Darlings School Writing Prize, her love for writing has been reignited and she hopes to one day share her writing with the world. She is very excited to be performing... Read more
Arshia Rana is a year 11 student, public speaker and debater, and avid reader. The founder of In My Opinion, Rana aims to teach the youth of today effective communication skills to help drive meaningful change, by creating and sharing public speaking/debating resources on her page and hosting course... Read more
Fig is a neurodiverse poet/artist whose work explores queerness, mental health and the teen experience. They live with their six pet birds including a very friendly lorikeet named Alphie.
Sunday Williams-Starkie is 16 years old, and loves to sing, write music and stories and perform. They love to experiment and create, and are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to perform something at the Teen Gala, and hope many people will one day be able to enjoy their words. ... Read more
Rufaro Zimbudzi is a Zimbabwean-Australian, singer, actor and writer. Her passion for the creative arts has allowed her to openly express the fusion of cultures she was brought up on in the diaspora, as she strives to be the representation she never truly saw growing up. Rufaro is a musical theatre ... Read more
I am a 13 year old boy from the Macedon Ranges. I play soccer and guitar and love the Beach Boys. I can’t say I like poetry because I have read all the books and the poets, because I haven’t read any. But what I like is how it can appeal to anyone regardless of experience. I like to have fun w... Read more
Lee Peenfather is a 15-year-old writer and poet from Melbourne. In 2021, Lee became the overall state champion of the OutLoud Slam Poetry Competition with their poem “What Would You Say,” which explored their experience as a queer gender diverse teen. Lee has gone on to perform in multiple Wheel... Read more
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