Shire Theatre Competition

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Shire Theatre Competition Compete in Prepared Performance or Improvised Sections as a solo, duo or group performer this June 21 & 28! 🎭 🎤

22/10/2026

Thank you McDonald's Australia for your generous support of the Shire Theatre Competition! Dinner was sorted for our competitors on Family Fun night!

Your dinner plans could help support the 2027 Shire Theatre Competition Event! 🍽️ Thanks to our incredible sponsor McDon...
15/09/2026

Your dinner plans could help support the 2027 Shire Theatre Competition Event! 🍽️
Thanks to our incredible sponsor McDonald's Australia, a percentage of all sales this evening at the Engadine and Heathcote locations will go toward the 2027 Shire Theatre Competition! 🎭
Macca's has been a generous and vocal support of STC since its founding in 2024 and we are so grateful to have them on board. Enjoy your meals!!

📚 STC jumped online with Peter Kirkpatrick!Today, Shire Theatre Competition had the absolute pleasure of sitting down wi...
12/09/2026

📚 STC jumped online with Peter Kirkpatrick!

Today, Shire Theatre Competition had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with poet, author and academic Peter Kirkpatrick, author of The Wild Reciter: Poetry and Popular Culture in Australia 1890–2020.

The Wild Reciter explores the fascinating history of poetry in Australian popular culture from a time when poetry appeared throughout newspapers and recitation was a popular form of performance heard on stages, in schools and in local halls through to the changing ways we experience poetry today (Taylor Swift, anyone?)

I noted that the tradition of recitation Peter writes about feels remarkably familiar to the Memorised Poetry and Memorised Prose sections we offer at Shire Theatre Competition.

I shared with Peter that these are consistently some of the least-entered categories each year and of those that do enter, most are AMEB students with pieces memorised for their exams anyway.

So I asked Peter if he had a message for the young performers who might be considering giving poetry a go and his response was too beautiful not to share:

“We all live in words. It’s what we think when we’re thinking our best. It opens our mind to ourselves, to one another and even to different worlds. It’s beautiful, and every student should engage with poetry.” — Peter Kirkpatrick

Perhaps one of my favourite parts of the conversation was Peter’s approach to poetry itself: not as something reserved for academics, literary circles or an elite few, but as a form of expression and performance that belongs to all of us.

That feels particularly fitting when we consider the history of the “wild reciter” and the generations of Australians who once stood up and simply performed a poem because there was joy in sharing words with other people.

Peter’s words are well worth taking to heart, my friends and I still recite "Old Man Emu" around the campfire 🔥

A huge thank you to Peter for so generously giving us his time today. It was a privilege to speak with such an accomplished poet, author and scholar ❤️

24/08/2026

Congratulations to Claire who won 1st Place in the Primary aged monologue section for her performance of "Squirrel Lady" 🎉 We hope you celebrated with many a peanut!

Congratulations to all local students who competed in this year's competition! A spotlight moment for the success of wi...
01/07/2026

Congratulations to all local students who competed in this year's competition! A spotlight moment for the success of with Claire, Damon and Zoey! 🏆 Congratulations! 💯🎊

17/06/2026

🎭 Teen Duologue Results 🎭

What a fantastic Duologue section at the Shire Theatre Competition!

Duologue is a performance category where two actors bring a scene to life through characterisation, storytelling, and connection. Competitors can perform published works or self-devised pieces, often incorporating costumes, props, and creative staging to enhance their performance.

This year's section showcased an incredible range of work. From Snow White and the Huntsman, to a snippet from Gilmore Girls, to completely original self-devised scenes, our performers demonstrated remarkable creativity, versatility, and commitment. We saw comedy, drama, tension, laughter, and everything in between.

Every competitor should be incredibly proud of the courage and talent they displayed on stage. The standard of performance was exceptional, and our adjudicator had some very difficult decisions to make!

🏆 Results 🏆

🥇 1st Place: Piper E & Charlotte G

🥈 2nd Place: Elizabeth S & Alysa S

🥉 3rd Place: Ellanore C & Lena G

Congratulations to all of our duologue competitors for sharing your creativity and bringing such a wonderful variety of stories to the stage. We loved every moment! 👏✨

SutherlandShire

13/06/2026

🎭 What an amazing Day 1 of the 2026 Shire Theatre Competition - Teen Sections 🎭

Today was filled with creativity, courage, laughter, and outstanding performances. We are so proud of every competitor who stepped onto the stage and shared their talents with our community.

A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors for helping make this event possible! maccas_au_
Southern Star Trophies Southside Church MARTINE DIPPRE | KORE PROPERTY GROUP Think Quick Theatre

We are also grateful to our volunteers, adjudicators, families and audience members for creating such a supportive and encouraging environment.

We can't wait to do it all again next weekend! 🏆✨

13/06/2026

A huge thank you to Simon Kennedy – Member for Cook for his support of the Shire Theatre Competition and the young performers who make our community so vibrant.

Opportunities for young people to participate in the arts are about so much more than what happens on stage. Drama builds confidence, communication skills, creativity, teamwork, resilience, and the courage to step outside of your comfort zone. These are skills that stay with young people long after the curtain closes.

Community events like the Shire Theatre Competition provide a place where students can challenge themselves, celebrate their achievements, form friendships, and discover their voice in a supportive environment. For many participants, it's their first opportunity to perform in front of an audience, while for others it's a chance to continue developing a passion that may stay with them for life.

We're incredibly grateful for leaders who recognise the value of investing in local initiatives that create meaningful opportunities for young people and strengthen community connections.

Thank you, Simon, for helping us continue to provide a platform where creativity, confidence, and community can thrive. 🎭

The 2026 Schedule is here! ✨ We are so excited to see all who entered on stage starting next weekend!
03/06/2026

The 2026 Schedule is here! ✨ We are so excited to see all who entered on stage starting next weekend!

Our competition wouldn't be possible without the the incredible support of our community sponsors. Thank you and for y...
24/05/2026

Our competition wouldn't be possible without the the incredible support of our community sponsors. Thank you and for your support at the Engadine Autumn Markets today!!

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