YouthFest 2026

YouthFest 2026 was held on Sunday the 20th of September at the Governor Stirling Senior High School. There was a total of six shows, with three junior entries and three senior entries. It was adjudicated by Kerri Hilton.

Special Awards

Backstage Excellence

Indigo Haasy, Noah Vigor, and Joshua Fisher for Seussical Kids — Sawyers Valley Primary School

Technical Achievement

For excellence in costume, scenery, and technical script, Invasion Under the Sea — Forest Crescent Primary School

YouthFest Junior

Adjudication Certificates

For stage presence, Amity Robertson as Henchy the Henchman in Invasion Under the Sea — Forest Crescent Primary School

For character portrayal, Freddy Summerscales as Wise Old Turtle in Invasion Under the Sea — Forest Crescent Primary School

For stage presence, Maya Williams as The Cat in the Hat in Seussical Kids — Sawyers Valley Primary School

For comic timing, Eamon Greene as Dino Dave in Auntie Madge and the Bushrangers — MYTh

For enthusiastic and energetic jellyfish, Hope Jordan and Tannayah Marrocco in Invasion Under the Sea — Forest Crescent Primary School

Melville Theatre Encouragement Award

Seussical Kids — Sawyers Valley Primary School

The Terry Hackett Award for Most Innovative Production

Invasion Under the Sea — Forest Crescent Primary School

Best Director

Kimberly Shaw for Seussical Kids — Sawyers Valley Primary School

Best Actor

Max Braddock as Horton in Seussical Kids — Sawyers Valley Primary School

Best Actress

Sophia Perazzelli as Lionfish in Invasion Under the Sea — Forest Crescent Primary School

The Jack and Mavis Hart Trophy for Best Junior Production

Auntie Madge and the Bushrangers — MYTh

YouthFest Senior

Adjudication Certificates

For stage presence, Georgia Zaffino-Little in Hello Shakespeare — MYTh

For stage presence, Marshall Kranz-Little as Sam in 10 Ways to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse — Whirlwind Performance

For characterisation, Oliver Overmars as Simon in Alone at Last — Kennedy Baptist College

For comic timing, Harley Miletic in Hello Shakespeare — MYTh

For excellent in setting scene and tone of play, Jarvis Church as Narrator in Hello Shakespeare — MYTh

Senior Encouragement Award

For debut performance at YouthFest — Kennedy Baptist College

The Terry Hackett Award for Most Innovative Production

10 Ways to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse — Whirlwind Performance

Best Director

Monique Beesley for Hello Shakespeare — MYTh

Best Actor

Austin Greene as William Shakespeare in Hello Shakespeare — MYTh

Best Actress

Zoe Carr as Helper in Hello Shakespeare — MYTh

The Ann Hill Award for Best Senior Production

Hello Shakespeare — MYTh