Kalgoorlie youth can ‘find their tribe’ at Black Swan Theatre Company drama program during school holidays

Black Swan State Theatre Company will bring its creative learning program to Kalgoorlie-Boulder these January school holidays, offering children the chance to create and connect through drama. Supported by Healthway, the workshops are grounded in The Kids Research Institute’s wellbeing framework and are designed to support confidence, friendships, and a strong sense of belonging. Participants will work with experienced teaching artists, including Shelby McKenzie, who grew up in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Black Swan creative learning manager Christie Sistrunk said the program was excellent for skill development. “It’s very physical, so there’s the fitness element to it. We do a lot of work on how to communicate with each other and how to express yourself,” she said. “There’s leadership in it, because they work in small groups and have to learn how to collaborate. It’s great for building empathy.” The program is the first in a series of three workshops planned for 2026 in the Goldfields. The January program will focus on creating space and exploring how the setting brings characters and stories to life. The April program will focus on creating character, and the July program will focus on telling the story. The three workshops have previously run in Albany, Geraldton, Karratha and Port Hedland. Ms Sistrunk said children could “find their tribe” at the program. “A lot of our students have met new friends,” she said. “You can fail at something, and it’s ok because that’s just a discovery in drama.” The subsidised program is $75 and runs from January 19 to 21 at the Goldfields Art Centre. Children are separated into morning and afternoon sessions, and no previous drama experience is required.