Meet some of the young stars taking the stage for CGEN 2025
Curtains will go up on Friday with 2000 students from Queensland taking to the stage for Creative Generation (CGEN) after months of preparation and rehearsals.
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The curtains will go up on Friday for Creative Generation 2025, with 2000 students from around Queensland set to take the stage after months of preparation and rehearsals.
This year’s theme is ‘The Next Chapter’, offering an exciting opportunity for a new group of young performers and emerging stars to showcase their talent.
The Courier-Mail went behind the scenes to speak with a handful of the students participating, from featured performers to first timers.
It’s clear they all share one thing in common – a passion for the arts.
Meet the state's future stars at 2025’s Creative Generation – State Schools Onstage.
Archie Loveland, Year 8, Kelvin Grove State College
What’s your role and why have you enjoyed it?
“I’m a solo featured instrumentalist, and I just like performing for other people.”
What’s the best thing about being a part of CGEN?
“I think the best part is working with the professionals. It is so fun.”
What are some of the challenges you have overcome for the show?
“Well, at first it was a bit scary, because I had to go on in front of the orchestra, and stand in front of everyone with the cast in front of me, but I just sort of focused on playing and not let the nerves get to me.”
What’s a cool behind-the-scenes thing other people wouldn’t know about?
“Definitely the sound team and everything they do, there's so much that goes into it.”
Kate Fraser, Year 11, Kedron State High School
What’s your role and why have you enjoyed it?
“My role is concertmaster and solo instrumentalist and I’ve loved meeting everyone.”
What’s the best thing about being a part of CGEN?
“For sure the concert day because you get like the hair and makeup team and they’re always just working which is so fun.”
What are some of the challenges you have overcome for the show?
“There’s a lot to learn … you’re basically on the whole time and I am in four performances.”
What’s a cool behind-the-scenes thing that other people wouldn’t know about?
“Can I say the hair and makeup team again?”
Mia Bloxsom, Year 9, Kedron State High School
What’s your role and why have you enjoyed it?
“I am a part of the musical theatre-featured vocal and drama cast this year. I love working with all the categories like with musical theatre you’re doing acting and singing and then dancing, and then drama you’re doing acting and so working with all of those categories I think that’s so cool.”
What’s the best thing about being a part of CGEN?
“My favourite part is definitely my CGEN family. I’m so authentically myself, I’m weird and I can be myself around them. It’s a different family that I’m really grateful to have.”
What are some of the challenges you have overcome for the show?
“I think rolling with like, this is the choreography, but it’s gonna change later. There’s lots of things that will change, like the day of, or the day before, so you’ve just got to be switched on all the time but it’s a good skill to learn.”
What’s a cool behind-the-scenes thing that other people wouldn’t know about?
“I love that we all have programs and we all get to sign autographs. Obviously, if you’re a featured cast, like Abraham and myself, there’s little kids that come up to you and it’s so wholesome, because I was one of those kids when I started doing CGEN.”
Abraham Poese, Year 12, Mabel Park State High School
What’s your role and why have you enjoyed it?
“I’m in the drama ensemble but I really like getting to collaborate with the other categories and performers.”
What’s the best thing about being a part of CGEN?
“There’s so many things but I think just getting to have fun and express yourself … I do get nervous at the start but then once you start its just like boom, and yeah you’re in the zone.”
Lolarose Lyon, Year 7, Woree State High School
What’s your role and why have you enjoyed it?
“I’m one of the assistant choreographers for the First Nations dance ensemble. I just really love getting to teach all the kids.”
What’s the best thing about being a part of CGEN?
“I get to meet other people and showcase their culture and who also enjoy the same things as me … a lot of my inspiration comes from my grandfather who was an elder and a very cultural man but he passed last year.”
What are some of the challenges you have overcome for the show?
“Definitely the long days of preparation … today for example, we had a 7.30 start and 6pm finish.”
What’s a cool behind-the-scenes thing that other people wouldn’t know about?
“Before we do rehearsals, we get to meet everybody and introduce ourselves and I think it’s pretty cool that there’s so many kids that are interested in being a part of CGEN.”
Teancum Wong-see, Year 12, Marsden State High School
What’s your role and why have you enjoyed it?
“I’m a featured instrumentalist and I play in the centre of the drum line. I love getting to learn new stuff, especially new rudiments and also meeting new people as well.”
What’s the best thing about being a part of CGEN?
“I think meeting people that are like a lot more experienced than myself, because I can learn off them.”
What are some of the challenges you have overcome for the show?
“Probably being a leader because I’ve always looked up to other people and so just having to lead myself is kind of a challenge.”
Georgia Summerville, Year 8 from Dalby State High School
What’s your role and why have you enjoyed it?
“I’m in the company choir. It’s just really fun meeting all new people and doing the performances.”
What’s the best thing about being a part of CGEN?
“Making new friends.”
What are some of the challenges you have overcome for the show?
“As my brother Nicholas said, we live three hours away so every weekend driving up and down but it’s worth it 100 per cent.”
What’s a cool behind-the-scenes thing that other people wouldn’t know about?
“The amount of people like all the groups that come out on stage. It doesn’t look like that many people but backstage seeing all the different types of people who are all interested in the arts is really cool.”
Nicholas Summerville, Year 6 from Dalby State School
What’s your role and why have you enjoyed it?
“I’m a featured vocalist and I like meeting new people and learning new things as well.”
What’s the best thing about being a part of CGEN?
“I think it's getting to make lots of new friends.”
What are some of the challenges you have overcome for the show?
“Being from Dalby we have to make a three hour trip every time we come to rehearse.”
What’s a cool behind-the-scenes thing that other people wouldn’t know about?
“You get to see that there is so many people from different places, all across Queensland.”
Layla Todd, Year 8, Kelvin Grove State College
What’s your role and why have you enjoyed it?
“I’m a senior feature dancer in the show, and what I really enjoy about the season is meeting new people from schools. I’ve made so many friends in my dance class.”
What are some of the challenges you have overcome for the show?
“I missed a rehearsal for dancing and had to learn it off the videos. And that was really quick so in time for the next rehearsal.”
What’s a cool behind-the-scenes thing that other people wouldn’t know about?
“Sometimes in the break we go around and we go get Maccas,”
Zara Todd, Year 6 from Marshall Road State School
What’s your role and why have you enjoyed it?
“I’m a featured junior dancer and it’s just an amazing experience, making all new friends, I’ve made a lot of new friends this year.”
What’s the best thing about being a part of CGEN?
“Definitely getting to meet different people from other schools.”
What are some of the challenges you have overcome for the show?
“Probably how in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang there’s a big car on the stage which we have to work around.”
What’s a cool behind-the-scenes thing that people wouldn’t know about?
“I really like how the audience sits diagonally.”
Hannah Todd, Year 4 from Marshall Road State School
What’s your role and why have you enjoyed it?
“I am a junior featured dancer and its really fun because I get to be in a dance with my sisters.”
What’s the best thing about being a part of CGEN?
“I think the part of the show when we go and see new people.”
Originally published as Meet some of the young stars taking the stage for CGEN 2025
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