All the future film stars the Empire Theatre is creating
Nine talented Toowoomba performers have opened up about their career aspirations and the steps they took when channelling characters of an upcoming performance. Meet the cast here.
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Nine young and promising performers will take to the stage this week to deliver an unforgettable and unique show.
Shack by George Kemp follows the tale of nine very different students who win a global warming competition with the prize being a trip to Antarctica.
Excitement soon turns to fear as a blizzard hits, separating the kids from their parents and guides, and leaving them stranded in a shack which belonged to famous explorer Ernest Shackleton.
Starring in the comedy meets thriller production will be Clay Hughes, Eddie Pocknee and Eliza Kinniburgh, as part of the Empire Theatre Foundation’s Junior Impact Ensemble program.
“Most places around Australia don’t take young people seriously or offer this level of professionalism and opportunities for young actors,” Clay, 14, said.
“Impact teaches us techniques, how to block, and different theories that will help us to become better performers.”
Shack is directed by Nicky Haeusler and will be at the Empire Theatre’s Armitage Centre on Friday, July 14 and Saturday, July 15 at 7pm. See empiretheatre.com.au
Meet the cast
Addie Hamilton, 13 – Sadie
For as long as she can remember, Addie Hamilton has had her sights set on the stage and stars.
The 13-year-old decided to audition for Impact last year when she was encouraged to apply for a show by the drama captain at her school at the time.
“Acting has always been my biggest passion and I’m so grateful I was accepted (into Impact),” Addie said.
“When I was really little I remember going to the Empire Theatre every Saturday to do drama classes and I loved it.”
Cast as Sadie – a character who “excels at most things she tries” but struggles with the pressure of always being the best, Addie said she related to her character’s empathy and desire to help others.
Inspired by the production’s director Nikki, the grade 8 student said the mentor had ignited her dreams to follow the same profession.
“Nikki is one of the best directors I’ve ever seen and has actually made me want to be a director too,” she said.
“It would be so cool to see all the ideas in your head come to life on stage and through other actors.”
Addie is also a fan of famous actors Anne Hathaway and Margot Robbie.
Alicia Yap, 13 – Luca
While many of her peers are set on exploring careers in the performing arts, Alicia Yap is leaving her options open.
The 13-year-old will make her debut with Impact this year after she experienced social anxiety.
Cast as Luca who is struggling with her parents’ divorce and constantly worries about making the wrong decision, Alicia said her character was caring, helpful and “smart with her heart”.
“In some ways, Luca is very relatable because she always tries her best,” Alicia said.
“My experience with Impact has really helped me with stage fright and even though I still get nervous, I handle it better and find it easier to talk to other people now.”
Open to all possibilities, Alicia said she does not want to focus on one area until she has found an area that brings her the most joy.
In her spare time, she also plays the piano which she started at the age of three, as well as the cello and saxophone.
Clay Hughes, 14 – Rufus
From the moment Clay Hughes watched Jack Black star in School of Rock on the big screen, he knew he wanted to act and even started learning to play the electric guitar.
For the past three consecutive years, Clay has auditioned and been accepted into Impact which only further sparked his interest within the arts.
This year, the 14-year-old will play Rufus who Clay described as “obnoxious, bossy and a bit of a bully” who wants to take charge and grew up with a different ideology to everyone else.
“It was pretty hard getting into the mind of a character like that, especially because of all the different emotions he feels,” Clay said.
“Rufus goes on this journey of being stressed, to being angry, to being confused, until he finally comes to peace with himself in the end.”
Clay who loves playing characters who offer the audience comedic relief, said he plans to audition for the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney after high school.
He also intends to study a double degree in acting and experimental physics after being inspired by role models who are heavily interested in science.
Eddie Pocknee, 13 – Jasper
“Don’t judge a book by its cover” are the words Eddie Pocknee hopes will resonate with audience members after seeing his upcoming performance.
Playing the role of Jasper – a flamboyant and likeable character who often has his sexuality questioned or is misjudged by others, Eddie said his character was very relatable.
“It’s incredibly easy for someone to make a snap judgement about you and judge a book by its cover, but if you take the time to see, you’ll realise there is so much more happening beneath the surface,” he said.
“Jasper’s character arc is pretty special – he ends up believing it’s OK to be who he is and learns he has a place where he fits into the big puzzle.”
The 13-year-old has been cast in the Impact show for two years after participating in eisteddfods as a young child alongside his sister.
With dreams of acting in musical theatre productions, the grade 8 student plans to audition for Griffith University’s Queensland Conservatorium in Brisbane.
The triple threat who likes to sing, dance and act said while he did not have a favourite actor, he enjoyed watching “inclusive” roles.
“Although I really enjoy performing and going on stage, my favourite part is the process of workshopping and creating a masterpiece with a group of people,” Eddie said.
Eliza Kinniburgh, 13 – Ernie
Keen to follow in the footsteps of one of her favourite actors Elizabeth Olsen, Toowoomba’s Eliza Kinniburgh hopes to live and study at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, after school.
Despite this dream meaning the teen would need to move away from family, she said growing up with two brothers had given her a sense of confidence and independence.
“Elizabeth Olsen, Scarlett Johansson and Zendaya are my favourites because they’re just such powerful women who are insane at acting,” Eliza said.
“They can completely switch from themselves to being a completely different character and that’s what I enjoy most – discovering new parts of who Eliza is through different roles.
“Imagine being from Toowoomba and living in New York and being in a movie – how crazy would that be?”
Initially drawn to broadway, Eliza said she is now opting for film and television after performing with Impact for the second time this year.
“Being from such a smaller area like Toowoomba means there aren’t many opportunities available so when I heard about Impact I was beside myself with joy,” she said.
“I just love to act so much, being able to express myself through different characters, being heard.”
The 13-year-old will play the role of Ernie this year – a student on her school’s representative council who is nominated by her peers to be the group leader – a role she does not want to accept.
Jay Cook, 12 – Mack
Despite being one of the youngest cast members in Impact, Jay Cook has already firmly made his mark in the world of acting.
After making it through the audition process for the ensemble program again, the 12-year-old is thrilled to be back for his third show.
“The first time I auditioned we didn’t have high hopes of me getting in, but mum and I were stoked when we found out I did,” he said.
Jay said he plays Mack who is a bit of a nerd, struggles with anxiety and is called upon to answer academic questions by the others.
The aspiring actor said while he was very outgoing in real life and found it interesting to transform into such an introverted character, he loved the challenge.
“I love to explore other characters and put myself in their shoes, especially when they are so different to who I am,” Jay said.
“At the start of the year we went through what we think our character’s walks would be like, how we thought they would greet someone and then refer to that every day when we go through our script work.”
Inspired by the work of Ryan Gosling and Leonardo DiCaprio, but “definitely not” Tom Holland, the young cast member said he wanted to learn how to cry on cue.
Jay said his favourite movies included Whiplash, The Joker and “darker movies that really make you think.”
“I also love comedies because who doesn’t?” he said.
“Every actor’s dream is to be in film and television so that’s my ultimate goal, but I’m also open to theatre because I enjoy it and that’s how a lot of Hollywood actors get noticed.”
In addition to his acting pursuits, Jay hopes to graduate with a degree from university but is still working out which area he would like to study.
Lucy Lutton, 14 – Jamie
Intrigued by the idea of working alongside a small group of diverse and talented young actors, Lucy Lutton auditioned for Impact, making this show her first with the ensemble.
“I’ve been acting and singing since I could talk and for as long as I can remember I have been taking lessons,” she said.
“Everyone (involved in Impact) has been so inclusive and encouraging of others and the whole cast has become so close which really helps us to perform our best.”
The 14-year-old performer is cast as Jamie who is a twin in the play, and never feels like she is considered an individual – an experience Lucy relates to as a teenager herself.
“Because it’s always been the two twins, Jamie is frustrated because she’s trying to discover who she is as a person and express herself but can’t communicate that to her twin,” Lucy said.
“I know how it feels to go through that self-discovery phase where you figure out who you are and what you like.
“Watching my character arc and how she grows has been my favourite part of this process because she goes from having these identity issues to realising who she is at her core.”
While the grade 9 student is considering taking up acting professionally, she is also leaning towards psychology so she can help others who are struggling.
Majella Ford, 12 – Samson
Youngest member of the Junior Impact Ensemble is Majella Ford who fittingly also plays the youngest character of the nine kids.
Playing the character of Samson, Majella said “she dumbs herself down because she doesn’t want to be seen as a nerd and in order to cover that up, Samson acts really sassy.”
“Samson also really loves and forms connections with mice … she has a mouse named Gadget at home and finds a mouse in the shack which is a new species because Antarctica is usually too cold for mice.
“My friend has mice and I think they’re OK but I probably wouldn’t have one as a pet myself – I’m not scared of mice but they poo on hands a lot which is kind of gross.”
This year will mark Majella’s second production with the theatre group after she was cast in Charlie Pilgrim in 2022.
The grade 7 student wants to pursue a career in the performing arts and is considering becoming an English, drama and music teacher or singing and acting professionally.
Mataya Forster, 12 – Elliot
Whether she’s singing, acting or dancing, Mataya Forster loves being in the spotlight.
While Shack will be her first production with Impact, she’s no stranger to the stage after performing in a miniature vocal ensemble with Opera Australia two years ago.
Keen to pursue theatre acting professionally, Mataya said she would be happy to dabble in film and television too.
“It’s days out from performing and I can feel my guts dropping because I’m so nervous, but I just have to try my best,” she said.
Encouraged by a family friend to try out for Impact, the grade 7 student said she was pleasantly surprised when she heard the news she had been selected to participate in the program.
Mataya who plays Elliot – an older twin of another character called Jamie, who is played by Lu Lutton – said her character relied on her sister too much, causing Jamie to distance herself.
The aspiring actor said while she was very different to her onstage persona, she shared the similarity of being an older sibling and needing to be the responsible one.
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