Out Loud Theatre Company
the voice of youth: the youth acting company of The Performing Arts School of New Zealand

OBJECTIVE: To perform new and vibrant theatre relevant to youth.

The Performing Arts School of New Zealand and Out Loud Theatre Company are committed to creating and producing new and original work that stimulates and excites young people about theatre, and delivers important social messages “to young people, from young people”.

Out Loud Theatre Company is an exciting and well-established  acting company that offers training and performance opportunities for students aged 15 -19 who are talented, passionate about acting for the theatre, and committed to their development as actors. It is anchored in a strong belief in the values and outcomes that the theatrical arts can offer young people. Through its programmes, Out Loud is committed to developing articulate, well-rounded and confident members of the community who have the potential to act as leaders among their peers and the ability to succeed and to interact with others in society in whatever context they ultimately channel their energies.

Under the PASNZ umbrella this company offers an advanced acting and bi-annual performance programme to allow young people to develop their potential through creative exploration and developing acting technique. The Out Loud company environment enables young people to develop their creative and personal potential through performing arts education (exploring texts, improvisation, movement, voice work and performance). It encourages the development of professional attitudes in a challenging and supportive environment.

Many youth company members have gone on to tertiary training and successful careers in acting. The selected company meets once a week on Tuesday evenings and intensively for rehearsals during school holidays. Performances take place in the theatre at TAPAC (The Auckland Performing Arts Centre).
Next Auditions will be held at 7pm on 13 October 2009.

PASNZ also offers younger actors, 13 – 16 years, development opportunities through its Between Lines Company – next audition February 2010.

PASNZ and the directors of Out Loud value and encourage:

• nurturing positive young people with much to offer their community
• the exploration and development of individual creative and personal potential through collaboration with others
• developing communication skills and the ability to articulate ideas and emotions, to allow young people to find their place and voice in society
• the development of wider skills and disciplines for life and work
• the development of trust – in themselves and in others
• the exploration of the emotional and psychological aspects of humanity, and a deeper understanding of other people’s emotional wants and needs
• consideration, understanding and making of ethical choices 
• a discerning understanding and appreciation of theatre and the arts

The Director

Under the professional guidance of director and writer Rosalind Gardner (BA, Dip Teaching, ATCL), Out Loud Theatre Company has established its own thought-provoking yet accessible brand of youth theatre. Rosalind is an actor, author, director and teacher who has worked extensively with young people through Theatre in Education – Youth Theatre Verbatim in Christchurch (1990), and Room to Move, Auckland (1998). She has tutored at the Auckland College of Education and at UNITEC where she has devised and directed the Unitec performance school’s touring season.

As a published author (15 published/performed plays and three books for children and young adults), Rosalind is attuned to the nuances of what young people respond to, and she is passionate about communicating effectively with this hard-to-reach age group through performance and her work with Out Loud.