By CASEY NEILL
A Dandenong youth theatre program can continue to nurture the south-east’s aspiring actors thanks to a grant.
Hampton Park’s Hushum Juma is among SeaACT’s success stories and was thrilled with State Government VicArts Grants Program cash for a 12-month project.
Creative Industries Minister Martin Foley met with SeaACT members on 18 May to announce the funding for a partnership with Melbourne Playback Theatre Company, Dandenong’s Drum Theatre and the Emerging Writers Festival.
The program went on hold about six months ago after its funding ran out but will return in term four.
“When we heard that SeaACT might not continue we were actually kind of devastated,” Hushum said.
“We enjoyed our time at the Drum. Every time we passed by the building we wondered what happened inside.
“SeaACT gave use the opportunity to come in.”
Hushum, 20, developed an interest in acting about four years ago through his drama class at Hampton Park Secondary College.
“SeaACT visited our school,” he said.
“I was sceptical at first but I really like acting. I gave it a go.
“It’s about sharing stories as a group. We creatively listen and perform stories from the audience or stories from each other while we’re rehearsing.
“We have a laugh about it and enjoy ourselves. It’s just a very creative outlet.”
Hushum’s participation in SeaACT confirmed his desire to make acting his career, gave him the confidence to pursue it, and led to a scholarship with Melbourne Playback Theatre Company.
“With the SeaACT and Melbourne Playback I got an inside look as to what it really means to create a show,” he said.
He dreams of working “all over Melbourne, all over Australia – all over the world, hopefully”.
“I’m looking to move into filming, doing television and stuff. A movie would be a dream,” he said.
Actress Diana Nguyen works for Melbourne Playback Theatre and Southern Ethnic Advisory and Advocacy Council (SEAAC), which together run SeaACT.
“I’ve grown up in this area and there weren’t any performing arts programs for young people when I was growing up,” she said.
SeaACT started in Hampton Park in 2013 as an outlet for young refugees but has expanded to include all young people in the south-east.
“It’s not just telling stories about migrant backgrounds,” Ms Nguyen said.
“It’s about all young people in these areas.”
About 250 kids have participated since SeaACT’s inception, with 15 to 20 attending sessions each week.
Ms Nguyen said the grant would support collaboration with the Emerging Writers Festival on a script that SeaACT would bring to the Drum Theatre stage in July next year.
The Drum’s director Greg Hordacre said the project was exciting.
“The Drum is looking at ways of making programs like these accessible to people in the community so they stop walking past and start coming in,” he said.
