Futures Collide
Corrugated Iron Youth Arts celebrates 40 huge years in 2024 with a month-long program of performances, showings, workshops and gatherings. Oh, and a big ol’ party, of course. With cake.
By Tierney White
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS in 1984 as a youth drama program through Brown’s Mart Community Arts, to the hugely popular youth theatre organisation it is today, Corrugated Iron Youth Arts – or Corro, as it’s affectionately known – has played a huge part in the lives of many Territorians.
Executive Producer/CEO Zoe Scrogings notes community support as a contributing factor to the organisation’s longevity.
“I’ve been thinking about this a lot. I think it’s the community support that Corrugated Iron has … In its early years, it was very much fuelled by parents wanting performing arts opportunities for their children, so it came from a really grounded need, and I think that’s just carried through,” she says.
“The work that Corro has done over the years has actually been quite innovative in the sense that young people, or doing work with young people, is often at the forefront of really contemporary innovative arts practice. I think that the strong legacy of Corro is that it’s so family friendly, and it’s become part of the Territory’s DNA.”
Corro alumni includes actors Miranda Tapsell and Ursula Yovich, playwrights Stephen Carleton and Ciella Williams, even media professionals including ABC Darwin’s Elleni Rousos.
Suffice to say, this small-but-mighty arts organisation has played a huge part in catapulting the careers of creative Territorians, but Scrogings reckons it’s so much more than a youth arts organisation.
“Not only does Corro create incredible artistic experiences, it also acts as an important lifeline for young people who may not necessarily have found their tribe, and they find their tribe here. That comes up all the time,” she says.
“Youth performing arts has so many outcomes that are beyond the arts, and unfortunately, sometimes that’s not valued by the rest of society, but I think Corro, time and time again, has proved its worth.”
Four decades of championing and celebrating young people is certainly something to make a songs and dance about. The theme ‘Futures Collide’ is a nod to those from the past, those in the present, and moving together towards the future. As young people are often seen as the future, Scrogings and the merry Corro crew encourage you to consider it a little differently.
“Sometimes we see young people as a symbol of the future, but here at Corro, we see it very differently. Young people are now, they’re very present, and their future is right now. We’re very immediate in our interactions because we meet them where they’re at, and that act can have huge impact on a young person.”
Young people have been given the agency to throw this 40th birthday bash, part of Corro’s firm belief that the organisation should be youth-led. All month long, you’re invited to celebrate this wonderful and important NT institution, with parties, circus, theatre and music.
Go on, raise a toast to the resilience of both Corro and the Territory’s young folk. We’re lucky to have them.
Corrugated Iron Youth Arts
WHEN TUE 1 – THU 31 OCT
INFO corrugatediron.org.au
PROGRAM Highlights
All free unless otherwise noted.
Life Is Swift Reading
Life Is Swift is a reading and development showing, written by Corro alumni Ciella Williams, with Alyson Evans and a very savvy team of young artists. A portal in Freddie’s room transports her and her best friend Edith into a fantastical world inspired by a pop superstar’s universe. As they navigate different eras, and face unexpected challenges, they must confront their evolving friendship, exploring the trials of being 15 through a mix of fandom and fantasy.
WHEN FRI 4 OCT | 6-7.30PM
COST FREE | REGISTRATION
Corro’s Funtastic Family Day
Perfect for kids aged 13 and under, and their families, hosted by Debacle the Bear. Enjoy DJ Anais Kids Disco, aerial acts and acrobatics, with circus and hula hoop workshops. Screen print a tote bag or bring your own T-shirt, get inked at the body paint tattoo parlour, meet Corro’s teaching artists, and unwind in the drawing zone. Check out the circus-themed treasure hunt with fantastic prizes, with snacks available all day.
WHEN SAT 5 OCT | 10AM-1PM
HAWT COUTURE Mini
Following its success in New York and Darwin Fringe, led by the seriously funny Anna Thomson, HAWT COUTURE Mini is a free, all-ages workshop series. Transform discarded materials into haute couture inspired by fashion from the 80s to today, and showcase your eco-friendly threads on the catwalk at the big birthday party!
WHEN SUN 6, 13 & 20 OCT | 2-5.30PM
All My Friends Are Dead (Turning 40)
Join Company C and collaborators Alyson Evans and DK as they transport you through time, delving into the history and past shows of Corro. Is there a ghost in the Corro kitchen? What was Corro's first show? And where did the rats go that lived under the bleachers? Company C asks these important questions whilst also exploring the ultimate Gen Z dilemma – is life really over at 40?
WHEN THU 24 OCT | 6PM & 7.30PM
COST PAY WHAT YOU CAN
Corro Continuum - A Party for the Generations
This is it – the party of the year. Party people ages 13 and over are invited to escape the chaos of our times and celebrate with Corro at this intergenerational party. Fearless young artists have crafted an evening packed with high-energy performances, surprise alumni moments, and non-stop fun. Dress to impress and get ready to mingle, dance, and celebrate the spirit of resilience and unity.
WHEN SAT 26 OCT | 7-9.30PM
COST $40
Header, thumbnail & inset: Life Time, Darwin Festival 2023
Inset: Gone with the Lift
