Riverland Youth Theatre (RYT) services the Riverland of South Australia, a region extending over 100kms along the Murray River from Blanchetown to the Victorian border, encompassing five major townships (Barmera, Berri, Renmark, Loxton & Waikerie) and surrounding communities. As the only dedicated Youth Arts organisation in the region, RYT seeks to provide a platform for the positive promotion of youth culture.  Activities are tailored to the specific demands of Riverland communities. 

RYT is one of only two regional youth theatre companies in South Australia and in 2006 the company will celebrate 21 years of offering young people across the Riverland relevant and high quality performing arts experiences. This includes opportunities to develop their own creative expression, increase their performance and technical skills, follow personal career development pathways and produce quality contemporary theatre that is relevant to them, their cultures and communities.

RYT responds to the culture of the place it inhabits by creating work that provides a voice for its young people and ensures that they are heard. RYT breaks down cultural and geographical barriers by working with the community to respond to the social needs of young people.

While RYT’ s central focus is on high quality artistic outcomes and opportunities for young people, through the very nature of the artistic process and through the strategic partnerships we form with other community service providers, secondary outcomes in areas such as health, welfare, justice and cultural awareness are engrained in our work.           

RECENT AWARDS

·         ‘WIRELESS VOICES’ received the 2009 SA Great ETSA Utilities Arts Award.

·         ‘LANDED’ received the prestigious 2006 YEP Youth Fringe Award for innovation and excellence, was nominated for an Adelaide Theatre Guide award and received the 2006 SA Great Regional Award (Youth).

·         In partnership with Life Education, the Renmark Paringa Australia Day Community Events Award for RYT’s role managing the Riveisteddfod for 2005.

·         RYT collaborated with Berri Primary School to develop ‘Boys will be Boys’ for their Lighthouse Project that won the 2004 National Schooling Award.

·         Riverland Youth Theatre’s commissioned script ‘I Said A Word’, written by Stephen House in collaboration with members of Riverland Youth Theatre won the Australian Writers’ Guild award in the Original Theatre for Young People category for 2002.

·         RYT won the prestigious 2002 Riverland / Murraylands Regional SA Great Award for bringing national recognition to the company and area and providing an outlet for young people’s artistic passions.