Creative Generation 2021: 1000 Qld students come together for 24 hours

More than 1000 Queensland students who only met 24 hours ago must now perfect an ambitious performance that runs from Thursday to Saturday.

More than 1000 Queensland students from dozens of state schools who met just 24 hours ago will tonight premiere the state’s largest youth performing arts show.

“It’s a big puzzle, but it all just comes together and fits,” Department of Education events manager Odette Moore said.

“It all comes together in the 48 hours before the first performance.”

Creative Generation, or CGEN, brings together students, teachers and school communities to be involved in a professionally produced, award-winning arena show that is aired on television.

The event will run from tonight until Saturday.

Kyla Lambert (Ormeau Woods SHS), Maddison Graham (North Lakes, alumni performer), Samuel Richards (Centenary Heights SHS), Florence Penny (Gympie West State School) and Taj Nankervis (Helensvale SHS) ahead of CGEN at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“The show is not a competition, it’s about inclusivity and it encourages students of all levels of performance ability,” Ms Moore said.

“You’ve got your kids who are absolute superstars in singing in dancing, a lot of them attend schools of excellence … the whole orchestra is school students, they play the entire show and they are so professional it is insane.

“So we have kids of that ability and we have kids who have never been on a stage before.”

Children in lead roles have been practising together for several months in the lead-up to the event, but the mass cast came together for the first time yesterday.

“Regional kids that live a long way away, they and their teachers are sent resources online and they learn the pieces they are signing or they are dancing in the mass cast,” Ms Moore said.