Review: Creative Generation State Schools Onstage 2025 is unlike any show I’ve seen before

With a cast of thousands guided by some of the best in the entertainment business, the performing arts blockbuster Creative Generation has hit the stage and the show isn’t your typical school performance. Read our review here.

The Creative Generation performance at the Convention Centre in Brisbane. Picture: Adam Head

Queensland schools’ performing arts blockbuster Creative Generation has hit the stage and the show isn’t your typical school performance – it is like High School Musical but with the energy of a rock concert.

The second the lights dimmed and a round of applause erupted at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, I knew I was about to witness something special.

I am talking about Creative Generation – State Schools Onstage – also known as CGEN.

The production provides students the chance to acquire new skills by working with some of Australia’s leading performers and industry professionals in a world-class venue.

Since its inception in 2005, the large-scale event has grown from a cast of 550 students to now more than 2000 and is nationally renowned for its outstanding and vibrant display of state school talent.

The Creative Generation performance at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Picture: Adam Head

This year will see 2000 performing arts students take to the stage at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The large-scale event includes more than 1000 dancers, a choir of 500, more than 80 instrumentalists, 30 featured vocalists, as well as a drama cast of 11.

Now in its 21st year, the theme for this year’s performance extravaganza is The Next Chapter, which takes the audience on a musical journey filled with dance steps, drum beats, and classical and pop songs that will have you singing in your seat, with the songs selected serving as a reminder that brighter days are always ahead, no matter the challenges we face.

The show opened with a stunning performance of the Christine Anu song Coz I’m Free by Daisha Auda and Layla Barnett accompanied by the First Nations dance ensemble.

The show continued with a wonderful rendition of Over the Rainbow by Mabel Park State High School student Christina Brown.

A striking performance of Into the Unknown followed featuring the talented dancers from the Dance company and senior dance ensemble.

The opening segment concluded with a moving rendition of Tomorrow by Christina Brown and Kelvin Grove State College student Dorothea Seierup, as bubbles flew across the stage.

Christina Brown wowed with her vocals. Picture: Adam Head

The show was broken up into seven fairytale-themed chapters with Jack and the Beanstalk – Reaching for your Dreams the opening chapter.

The first chapter was highlighted by a stunning dance performance to Mozart’s Lacrimosa, while the stage was lit up with a bright rendition of Daryl Hall & John Oates’ classic You Make My Dreams with the special schools dance ensemble in the spotlight.

The show took flight in Chapter Two – Peter Pan – The Joys of Childhood which featured a bright dance performance to the song Truly Scrumptious, before transitioning to a song about the famous flying car Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – featuring a replica of the car that was built by the driver of the vehicle in the show – before concluding with a energetic dance performance that saw the stage flooded with performers to Tones and I’s catchy tune Fly Away.

The third chapter Pinocchio – Your True Self took the audience on a journey about finding themselves and forging your own path in life – while featuring hit songs from several well-known movies.

It began with a stunning dance performance to the Billie Eilish hit song from the Barbie movie What Was I Made For? before jazz musician James Morrison AM, dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, and the Symphony orchestra broke out into a fearless performance of He’s a Pirate from the 2003 Disney film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Morrison also entertained by playing the trumpet one-handed while simultaneously playing the piano during the performance of The Boogie Bumper.

This was followed by an emotion-filled contemporary dance performance to Coldplay’s Fix You, before the chapter ended with an incredible drumming performance by the massed drumline to Banners’ Someone to You.

More than 2000 performers were involved in Creative Generation State Schools Onstage 2025. Picture: Adam Head

The show then explored the concept of going on the paths less travelled in life in Chapter 4 Little Red Riding Hood – Finding Your Strength, which began with a stirring performance of Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World by Flo Penny as Little Red Riding Hood.

Penny’s rendition was accompanied by a dark-themed dance performance by students from the Cairns School of Distance Education.

The fourth chapter was highlighted by a bold and unforgettable strings-only performance by the massed string orchestra to Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal, with Alice Liang of Brisbane State High School playing the violin as Little Red Riding Hood.

The opening act concluded with a performance of Go the Distance from the 1997 film Hercules, with the signing choir impressing the audience with their incredible performance, before All Fired Up lit up the stage before the interval.

Act 2 opened up with Striving Forward, which consisted of performances to songs Which Way, Test Drive, before a Hip Hop Mash-Up filled with creative dance moves.

The fifth chapter – The Journey Continues – Ready To Take On The World set the stage alight with an electrifying performance of Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven, with an epic guitar solo that saw sparks fly out of the end of a guitar.

Layla Barnett as Dorothy was one of the main stars of the show. Picture: Adam Head

A powerhouse performance of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by the massed, senior, and company choirs was followed by an entertaining dance performance by the musical theatre ensemble to Seize the Day from Disney’s Newsies the Musical.

The sixth chapter, The Three Little Pigs – Foundation of the Future was highlighted by a country-themed boot scootin dance performance to Cotton Eye Joe/Timber/Texas Hold-Em medley, that had the audience clapping in their seats, while Chapter 7 – The Next Chapter – The Story Continues Exactly As You Choose was capped off with a brilliant performance by Layla Barnett as Dorothy singing Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

The finale was an all-together celebration featuring all the cast of Creative Generations 2025 dancing and singing to Katy Perry’s Roar and I’ve got the Music in Me.

Overall thoughts? Creative Generations is absolutely brilliant and definitely worth attending.

If the opening show was anything to go by, the remaining shows are bound to be even more spectacular. If you haven’t already grabbed a ticket to Creative Generation – State Schools Onstage 2025, do so. You will not be disappointed.

*The Courier-Mail is a major sponsor of Creative Generation State Schools Onstage*

Originally published as Review: Creative Generation State Schools Onstage 2025 is unlike any show I’ve seen before