ARTISTIC RATIONALE
Australian youth theatre practices are at the forefront of experimental theatre making, creating internationally regarded works of theatre in short time frames. Among our international colleagues, Australian artists are noted for creative risk-taking, pushing the limits of artistic process, and innovative approaches to working with young people.
The international success of previous work undertaken by Fraser Corfield and Danielle O'Keefe is a testament to the exciting state of Australian youth arts.
PAST WORKS
PATRICE BALBINA'S CHANCE ENCOUNTER
WITH THE END OF THE WORLD
2016, directed by Fraser Corfield
Something unsettling has crept into the neighbourhood. It’s a feeling, a suspicion that disappears when you look at it directly. Patrice Balbina has noticed that small things are starting to disappear. The butcher has lost his laugh, the man with the pigeon is losing his patience, and dad says the government has lost its mind. But you wouldn’t expect the end of the world. Then he rang the doorbell.
In 2016, artists from six leading international theatre companies, ATYP, Pilot Theatre (UK), Teatro O Bando (Portugal), Teatro Elsinor (Italy), Dynamo Theatre (Canada) and Presentation House Theatre (Canada), arrived in Sydney. Together they devised a captivating new work that premiered at ATYP in January, transferred to Vancouver, Canada, and was selected to showcase at The 19th ASSITEJ World Congress and International Theatre Festival for Children and Young People in South Africa in 2017.
THE HOWLING GIRLS
2018, 2019, with The House that Dan Built Ensemble
The Howling Girls explores the medium and metaphor of the voice. Featuring a solitary soprano and a throbbing chorus of young voices, together with an immersive orchestration of theremin, keyboards and electroacoustic music, the score itself is a kind of proto-language, an attempt to communicate in a mode beyond the rational: a sensory spectacle to bypass the brain and work directly on the body. Featuring a solitary soprano and a throbbing chorus of young voices
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Developed in collaboration with the young ensemble of The House that Dan Built, The Howling Girls showcases the exciting artistic opportunities of working with young people. The Howling Girls premiered at Carriageworks in 2018, and travelled to Tokyo Festival in 2019.
Co-winner of the 2018 Music Theatre Now Competition​, Winner of the 'Vocal/Choral Work of the Year' in the 2019 Art Music Awards​, and Finalist in the 2018 FBi SMAC Awards in the category 'Best on Stage'.
REVERENCE
REVERENCE, the 2022 House Commission, is a Requiem for Piano and Voice, is a story of grief told through song. REVERENCE is part Requiem, part modern opera; and something entirely new. Performed in the round, this singular and intense debut work combines piano, percussion, six solo voices and a chorus to create an emotionally charged, bold and layered work. REVERENCE is the first major work by Rose Riebl, one of Australia’s most exciting pianists and composers, and is currently in talks for touring in 2026.
BAGATELLE
Inspired by experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the huge challenges that isolation brought to musicians, The House presents BAGATELLE. This project was a 2021 House Commission to showcase a series of micro-compositions written by The House ensemble in collaboration with celebrated composer and pianist Sally Whitwell. This work celebrates choral voice, the return to live music, and the human connection of singing together.
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SALT360
​SALT 360 is an immersive film installation, based on music from the collaboratively devised and composed show SALT.
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Young women, siren-like, invite the audience into a salty, female, underwater world by way of a highly evocative 360 degree projection. Danielle O’Keefe’s award winning female ensemble swaddle the audience in haunting choral music. Through a synergy of moving bodies and an original choral score, SALT follows an emotional journey of female adolescence into womanhood. Performed and devised by The House ensemble of teenage girls, we witness them wrestle the ocean and emerge heroic.
THE ARTISTS
DANIELLE O'KEEFE
Danielle OKeefe is an artistic director, performer and vocalist. One of Australia's leading youth arts creators, she is Founder & CEO of The House that Dan Built, a performing arts organisation which supports young women to write and perform music in front of Australian and international audiences.
She is also creator & conductor of the Toy Choir. Bursting with happiness the Toy Choir brings the sweet perfection of young voices with the joyous sounds of sugar pop harmonies & infectious ukulele strumming whose performances include opening 2016 Mardi Gras with Paul Capsis, Sydney Festival & Morning Television segments.
Danielle’s creative work has included critically acclaimed collaborations with Australia’s leading arts organisations including the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP), Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney Chamber Opera (SCO), and St Martins.
An interdisciplinary contemporary artist, Danielle’s site-responsive work with young female singers is being recognised and awarded internationally. Her work has been featured in collaborations through Melbourne Festival, Dark Mofo, & Sydney Festival.
FRASER CORFIELD
Fraser is a director, dramaturge and was the Artistic Director of the national youth theatre company, the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) until February 2025. One of the Australian theatre industry’s most experienced Artistic Director / CEO’s, Fraser has run companies in South Australia, Queensland and NSW. His work sits at the intersection of professional theatre, social impact, professional development and advocacy.
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Fraser is a passionate champion of new Australian stories and has commissioned and staged over fifty original productions across theatre, musical theatre and opera. His work has challenged perceptions of ‘youth theatre’ in Australia, receiving the nation’s highest awards for artistic excellence and securing a place for young artists alongside the nation’s flagship professional companies. His productions have been presented in every state and territory in Australia as well as the UK, Italy, Canada, South Africa, the USA and Japan.
Fraser regularly sits on industry panels and advisory groups for all levels of Government, Foundations, advocacy organisations and peak bodies.
IRIS SIMPSON
Iris is an emerging producer, arts administrator, and theatremaker. Iris has significant experience in development, having worked with Bell Shakespeare across philanthropy and corporate partnerships from 2023-2025. She served as a Programming Assistant for Midsumma, Melbourne’s premier queer arts festival, where she honed her skills in artist liasing, community engagement, and programming and curation. Iris was the Artistic Director of Muse Festival, a student-led initiative at VCA that reconnected the artistic community in the wake of Covid.
As an artist, Iris has created and performed in both theatre and film works in Melbourne and Sydney, showcasing her versatility and commitment to storytelling. Iris was an original member of The House Ensemble and has contributed as a deviser and performer for Tender Young Creatures, Salt, and Echo.
She is passionate about creating spaces and opportunities for young artists, and is invested in professional development and knowledge-sharing to further her skills and contributions to the sector.