About

‘Yes! And…’ is a 5 day drama camp for kids aged 7-14 where everything from the story to the props is created by the kids.

Guided by camp facilitators, kids will participate in classes in singing, dancing, acting and writing lead by the core teachers, plus ‘masterclasses’ facilitated by guest teachers!

Kids will be split into juniors (7-8 years old) and seniors (9-14 years old) for most classes, and come together for games and warm up activities.

Family of participants are invited to attend an afternoon prop making workshop on Thursday, and to watch the final performance at the end of camp on Friday. Details below.

Images of July 2022 holiday camp performance day by Sarah Clarke

Details

WHO:
Kids aged 7-14

WHEN:
Monday - Friday
9am - 3:30pm each day

WHERE:
Maribyrnong Community Centre
9 Randall St, Maribyrnong VIC 3032

FAMILY CRAFT-ERNOON:
Thursday
12:30am - 3:30pm

FINAL PERFORMANCE:
Friday
2pm - 2:30pm

Cost*

Thanks to Victorian Government’s West Gate Neighbourhood Fund Grant and the Maribyrnong Community Centre, camp fees are offered on a sliding scale. Prices listed are for the entire week.

  • Solidarity - $400 per child (pay it forward if you’re able, to support access by people experiencing financial difficulty)

  • Standard - $300 per child

  • Reduced Rate - $250 per child

  • Financial Hardship - $150 per child

Please choose the fee that is right for you. We do not require proof of need for reduced rates.

*We don’t want fees to be a barrier to any child attending, and warmly invite anyone that cannot afford these prices to please get in contact at wit.kids@witinc.com.au

Sample Timetable

Timetable will vary day to day, but this gives you an idea of what a typical day will look like.

FAQ

My child has never done any performing arts before - can they still join?
Yes! This camp will cater to all levels of experience.

My child is older than 14 or younger than 7 - can they still join?
We have chosen this age group for a reason, and lessons will be geared towards children in this age bracket. With that being said, we hate turning away kids so please feel free to call us to discuss.

I can’t attend the craft-ernoon - is this a problem?
No problem! It is not compulsory to attend the prop making session craft-ernoon - it’s simply a way to get involved in the show, and meet other families in the Maribrynong area. And get a free lunch!

Is lunch provided?
Lunch is not provided on any days except Thursday for the craft-ernoon. On all other days, please pack your child a full lunchbox that will last them the whole day.

Will kids be playing outside?
There is a fenced play area behind the Community Centre, and the kids will be allowed to play, supervised, during break times.

Can enrol my child for just one day of the camp?
No! Unfortunately this camp is structured for participants to come for the full 5 days only.

Is Maribyrnong Community Centre wheelchair accessible?
Yes it is. If you have any other access requirements, please let us know when booking.

Facilitators

Madeleine Magee Carr (Core Teacher)

Maddy is an actor, singer and teacher. Trained in musical theatre at Academy of Film, Theatre and TV in Sydney and The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, Maddy has a wealth of teaching experience and absolutely adores kids. She loves to approach drama from a place of fun and joy, while developing skills along the way. In 2020, she took over the running of Wit Kids from its founder Belinda Campbell.

As an actor, Maddy has worked broadly on both stage and screen. Her children’s theatre credits include playing Drizella in the London schools tour of Cinderella (Panto in a Day, 2018) and The Scientist in Arrival: The Reeflings (Memetica, 2021) at Abbotsford Convent and most recently understudying the roles of Jacket and Swimsuit in Unsorted at Theatre Works (2022). She was awarded Best Actress at the 2021 Canberra Short Film Festival for her performance as Jacquie in This River (dir. Naomi Fryer).

Sarah Frencham (Core Teacher)

Sarah is a teacher, performer, writer and director. With experience teaching overseas, Sarah’s passion for theatre extends to teaching and working with children, using drama and theatre to help build confidence, explore creativity and fun, all while building skills along the way.

After completing her Bachelor of Music Theatre at Federation University she has gone on to work broadly in Melbourne’s theatre scene, taking part in Homegrown

development workshops, script readings and touring nationally with children’s theatre company Alpha Shows as Ariel in The Little Mermaid (2020).

Rebekah Walsh (Core Teacher)

Rebekah is a Melbourne based performer and theatre maker. A graduate of the National Theatre Drama School, she was recipient of the 2019 Florence Young Scholarship donated by the Tallis foundation.

Film credits include: Edith Into Endless Oblivion (2022), Joni Plant Mama (2022), Gene Inside (2020). Theatre credits: Eve Mysteries Part 1 & 2 (2022), Miss Forsythe Death of a Salesman (2022), Clytemnestra Cygnets [development] (2022), Bride SUPPLY [development] (2022), Elizabeth Proctor The Crucible (2022), Helen The Trojan Women (2022), Lyubov Ranevskaya The Cherry Orchard (2020), Segismundo/She Lifes a Dream (2020), Marlene Top Girls (2019), Blanche Dubois A Streetcar Named Desire (2019), Constance King John (2018), Ethel Footloose (2017). She developed and performed The Weight of Ducks (2020) and Smith Street (2020) with Backyard Theatre Ensemble. Her directing credits include: For Our Next Trick (Melbourne Fringe 2020) Wednesday Morning 3am (Ass. Dir - Melbourne Fringe 2018), Ordinary Australians (Ass. Dir. - BYTE 2019).

As well as performing, Rebekah’s work has included running PD with music and drama teachers throughout regional Victoria and New South Wales, as well as directing and mentoring Primary and Secondary aged students in the Performing Arts with a focus on vocal health.

Jennifer Tran (Masterclass: Prop/Set Making, Craft-ernoon)

Jennifer is a designer and community arts worker born on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation ie Footscray. She graduated in Arts and Community Engagement from the VCA, Interior Design from RMIT and Industrial Design (Honours) from Swinburne University.

Since 2010, she has been working in the performing arts sector collaborating with various artists and diverse community groups. She has created children’s workshops at Footscray Community Arts Centre, ArtPlay and various councils. She has worked with disability theatre company Weave Movement Theatre and Description Vitoria for people who are Blind or have low vision. She has also delivered set designs at Arts Centre Melbourne, Arts House, La Mama Theatre, Theatre Work, fortyfivedownstairs and Brunswick Mechanics Institute. Internationally, she has produced a large scale outdoor set design with an Indonesian ensemble of dancers and musicians (2016); a site-specific installation with professional designers at the World Stage Design festival in Taipei, Taiwan (2017); and an eco-performance installation with international designers at the renowned Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space (PQ) event in Prague, Czech Republic (2019). Currently she is developing a set design with children’s theatre Polyglot for their Pram People project.

Sol Summers (Masterclass: Songwriting/Pianist)

Sol Summers is a Melbourne-based Music Director, teacher, and performer.

Since graduating from Federation University with a Bachelor of Music Theatre, Sol has been a Music Director for [Title of Show] with Be You Productions, and was assistant Music Director for Exquisite Corpse with Federation University.

Sol has a passion for making music and performing accessible and exciting for everyone, and he is very excited to be working with Wit Kids.

July 2022 Camp Testimonials

  • “My 8 year old daughter attended the first holiday drama camp with Witkids. She absolutely loved it! She bounced out of bed each morning and couldn't wait to get there! The teachers were awesome and full of energy. I loved how they let the kids create their own performances. No idea was too crazy! The crafternoon was such a nice day where parents could come and help make props and costumes. The performance on the Friday afternoon was so exciting and very impressive with music and songs. Fingers crossed that there will be more Drama Camps! Such a wonderful experience.”

  • “This was a really excellent camp. The children had an amazing time, learnt great new skills and were able to produce a fun, polished performance at the end. Thank you so much to everyone involved.”

  • “We cant wait for the next one!”

  • “Kids had so much fun and have the opportunity to proudly showcase their work to their family at the end. Such an awesome program!”

  • “As a single studying parent, I can only afford to send both girls with the subsidy. We were so grateful for the opportunity to be able to attend last holidays as it’s not something I ever would’ve been able to afford normally. Thank you so much for everything you do”

  • “The girls had amazing time! Thank you so much Maddy and team”

  • “--- is loving it since day 1 and we only hear positive feedback.”

  • “Kids are absolutely loving drama camp so thank you!”

  • “--- was crying in the car on the final morning saying he didn’t want it to end”

  • “The teachers were kind, had amazing rapport with the kids. It felt fresh and fun.”

  • “Loved the craft day too where parents got to help out, that was super fun. Looking forward to the next one, fingers crossed :)”

  • “My 7 year old daughter absolutely loves her weekly drama classes and the recent school holiday program she completed with wit kids. I think the teachers are excellent, vibrant and have amazing rapport with the group. Five stars!”

  • “We loved all of it - getting the kids feedback prior to the camp was great re the kind of roles they would like to play/themes/narratives etc. The hours worked well for us, similar to a school day. And having the one day where they got pizza for lunch was a delicious treat that I think they all enjoyed!”

About Wit Kids

Wit Kids is a weekly drama and musical theatre program for children aged 5-12 years. The classes are offered at heavily subsidised rates, starting at just $50 per term. Learn more.

Contact

Questions? Contact us at wit.kids@witinc.com.au or phone 0403 129 769.