October 1 to October 8 in Swan Hill Victoria
Key public works
Square Pegged
🌟 Date: Saturday, October 7
⏰ Time: 7 pm
📍 Location: Swan Hill Town Hall
Be part of history as fifty young people from rural Australia create an exciting new ensemble work in just seven days, exploring the question: What is Normal? Witness their inspiring performance that challenges the norm.
War of the Worlds
🌟 Friday, October 6
⏰ Time: 7 pm
📍 Location: Swan Hill Town Hall
Immerse yourself in a new script in development, workshopped by talented young artists from Arena Theatre Company, Riverland Youth Theatre, D'faces of Youth Arts, and the Fairfax Youth Ensemble. Witness their creative journey at this public reading.
Marruk 2023
🌟 Date: Saturday, October 7
⏰ Time: 7 pm
📍 Location: Swan Hill Town Hall
Experience the revival of the award-winning Marruk Ensemble as they bring culture, connection, and community to the Fairfax Youth Festival. Don't miss their captivating performance as part of Square Pegged.
In Full Voice
🌟 Wednesday, October 4
⏰ Time: 6 pm
📍 Location: Swan Hill Town Hall
Join our mass intergenerational all-of-community pub choir (no beer required!). Come together with the whole community to sing your hearts out.
The Stories That Make Us
🌟 Date: Tuesday, October 3
🌅 Time: Sunset
📍 Location: Quambatook Silo Cinema
Be captivated by short films created by the Fairfax Youth Ensemble, showcasing the voices and stories of young people across the Murray Mallee and being shown at the iconic Quambatook Silo Cinema.
Open Mic Night
🌟 Tuesday, October 3
⏰ Time: 7 pm
📍 Location: Quambatook Silo Cinema
We're rolling out the red carpet and putting the spotlight on our talented 2023 Fairfax Youth Participants and community members. It's time for an old-fashioned Open Mic Night with the stunning Quambatook silo as our backdrop. Get ready to be entertained by some incredible local talent, and make sure you bring your guitar!
Engaging with over
100 young people
from rural Australia
A gathering like no other.
The festival's centrepiece is a transformative camp from October 1 to 8, where over 100 young participants from rural Australia will collaborate with 20 world-class professional artists.
Toni Mia Scalora (20), a Fairfax Youth Associate from Swan Hill
"It's more than just learning skills; we create something amazing by uniting young people from rural places. This year, expect incredible performances that will resonate throughout our community."
2023 Fairfax Festival Guest Artists & Mentors
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Rinske Ginsberg
Living Legend of Melbourne Fringe & Former Head of Movement at the Victorian College of the Arts
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Nate Gilkes
Helpman Award-Winning Music Director, Composer & Theatre Visionary
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Fleur Kilpatrick
Award-Winning Writer & Artistic Director of Riverland Youth Theatre
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Lachlan Woods
Star of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Theatre, Film and TV Actor,
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Christian Leavesley
Artistic Director of Arena Theatre Company
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Chelsea Zeller
Comedian, Improvisor, Writer, Film Maker & Actor
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Imparja Pettit
Marruk Project Director, Didgeridoo player, Aboriginal Educator & Alumnus of the Fairfax Youth Festival and The Marruk Project
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Laura Burzacott
Actor, Singer, Cabaret & Theatre Maker
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Angela Frost
Multi-award winning community cultural development artist and theatre maker.
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Morgan Rose
Artistic Director Rawcus Theatre
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Nikita Moore
Contemporary Indigenous Artist, Cultural Facilitator and Storyteller
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Mark Leahy
Percussionist, Musician, Sound Designer & Community Artist
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Michal Hughes
Creative Producer from D’Faces and Drama Tutor
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Bayden Clayton
Performer, theatre maker & Creative Producer of the Marruk Project
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Kat Kats
Writer, Curator, & Theatre Maker
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Kayla Hamil
Clown, Comedian, & Theatre Making Superstar
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Jharrad Simpson
Musician, performer, & and Marruk Project participant support
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Michael Gosden
Award-winning filmmaker, director, producer
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Alysha Herrmann
Creative producer, writer, performance-maker and community organiser
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Anthony Crowley
Multi-award-winning playwright, composer, director, designer, dramaturge and educator.
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Bryce Ives
Director, Theatre Maker, Broadcaster & Artistic Director of the Fairfax Youth Festival
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Jo Porter
Theatre Producer, administrator and the CEO of Regional Arts Victoria
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Aimee Volkofsky
Singer, songwriter, radio broadcaster and audio producer
Emma Kelly (24), one of the Artistic Associates and a local from Swan Hill
"As a teenager, I was part of the festival, collaborating with professionals in physical theatre, puppetry, Shakespeare, and cinematography. The connections I made during that time still inspire me today. Fairfax is where young minds unite, ideas flourish, and creativity knows no bounds."
Our 2023 Fairfax Festival theme
Back To Normality
What is Normal? Are you normal? What are the typically normal things you do? What is the not-so-normal stuff you do? Is ‘normal’ what we should aspire to? Or is there something beyond normal? Who makes our norms? If somebody created the norms, and each of us is somebody, then perhaps we can make a new normal that includes anybody, perhaps even everybody.
Bayden Clayton (27) Creative Producer of the Marruk Project & Fairfax Youth Associate
"Marruk aims to enhance cultural bonds and promote intergenerational connections within the community by embracing the tradition of storytelling. This endeavour will involve young artists working alongside Elders and experienced Aboriginal facilitators to create and practice performances rooted in Indigenous heritage. Additionally, participants will engage in a range of Fairfax Festival workshops and immersive experiences."
Powered by our team of incredible youth associates
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Emma Kelly
Musician, actor, theatre maker, from Swan Hill and currently studying education at Latrobe University Bendigo
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Meg Richardson
Singer, actor, dancer, theatre maker & musician, recent graduate from the Ballarat Arts Academy at Federation University, originally from Gol Gol in the Sunraysia District
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Bayden Clayton
Creative Producer of the Marruk Project. A young and creative First Nations leader and a long-term associate of the Fairfax Youth Festival
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Toni Mia Scalora
Vice Chair of Swan Hill Theatre Company, passionate about promoting performing arts in Swan Hill and studying education.
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Claudia Cox
Fom Sealake, Claudia is a social media and communications whiz, has led the social media and communications for Rural Inspire and is a former Rural Youth Ambassador and ABC Heywire participant.
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Deniz Karakaya
Deniz is from Red Cliffs, is a creative young leader with experience in performance and dance. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of South Australia.
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Sammy Mullan
Sammy is 19, and from Lalbert. A young leader passionate about creative expression and an alumni of the Fairfax program. A key driver of the Fairfax Film Project.
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Deaken Fawcett
Musician, songwriter, and creative leader. Gannawarra Shire Council Young Citizen of the Year. Deaken is 19 from Kerang.
Led by a champion of rural communities & rural Australia
Bryce Ives, our Artistic Director, has led some of regional Australia's most significant game-changing and creative projects. He is highly regarded for his work with young people from rural and regional Australia.
Honouring an incredible legacy
The Swan Hill Rural City Council has been the proud custodian of the Fairfax Youth Festival for 27 years. Beginning in 1997 as The George Fairfax Memorial Regional Schools’ Theatre Festival, the Festival has regularly been presented in the Mallee region based around Swan Hill, Robinvale and Mildura.
The festival celebrates the memory of George Fairfax AM, a leading light in the Australian and international theatre scenes, who grew up in Nangiloc, a small town in the region. George was a driving force in establishing the Victorian Arts Centre in Melbourne and a youth arts and creativity champion.
Councillor Les McPhee, the Mayor of Swan Hill Rural City Council