Queensland Theatre Company calls for tomorrow’s talent, today!

Find and foster’ at the heart of new development program.

Following the launch of Season 2012 on the weekend, Queensland Theatre Company is calling for tomorrow’s talent, today, with the announcement of the inaugural QTC Youth Ensemble Program and a call for auditions.

The QTC Youth Ensemble is a year-long program, created by QTC Artistic Director Wesley Enoch, to find and foster Queensland’s stage stars of the future, focusing on nurturing the talents of Queensland’s high school students.

Audition applications close on January 8, 2012, with only 40 students to be selected for the program, one which will parallel QTC’s mainstage program, and will result in two productions during the year, to be staged as part of the GreenHouse program.

“Queensland is a fertile land for artistic talent…we have wonderful musicians, poets, writers, dancers and actors all over our state, some already celebrated and working across the globe but the vast majority are sitting in classrooms dreaming of their futures.” Wesley said.

“The QTC Youth Ensemble is our way to find and foster the future of Queensland’s acting talent. It’s unique as it supports actors from a young age and sets them up for their future and ours.” Wesley Said.

As well as receiving invaluable guidance from some of Australia’s most respected theatre professionals, the young people chosen will perform in two productions in July and again in September– staged as part of the QTC’s GreenHouse Program for 2012.

Next year the Bille Brown Studio will morph into The GreenHouse – an incubator of art, ideas and exploration representing the next stage of QTC’s 2011 Studio Season. “The GreenHouse will spring to life in May, July and October with performances, forums, workshops and creative developments, and will be home to an artists’ lounge, giving audiences and performers the chance to meet, talk and hear live music,” said Wesley. “It will also be the home of the QTC Youth Ensemble.”

Audition applications close on January 8, 2012 with the program being run after school and on weekends so not to disturb high school curriculums. Cost will be $400 per term for juniors (grades 9 and 10) and $500 for seniors (grades 11 and 12) with scholarships for the entire year available to applicants who excel in their auditions and interviews. Ensemble members will also receive a QTC Season 2012 Ticket.

Auditions will be held 16-22 January 2012 at Queensland Theatre Company, 78 Montague Rd South Brisbane. For more information go to www.queenslandtheatre.com.au or call Julia-Rose Lewis,Youth Program Officer on 07 3010 7606 or email [email protected]

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

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