When Riverland Youth Theatre was established in 1985 in Barmera, it was the only regional youth theatre in South Australia. Mildura’s Sunraysia Daily wrote of the company’s establishment that Barmera “had a youth unemployment problem and subsequentially a lot of young people wandering around the town. The theatre was established to provide some of those young people with an interest.” (April 23, 1987). Under the guidance of the founding director, Martin Christmas, the company grew fast and worked hard. The Border Times wrote of a sell-out performance in 1989 that RYT “has come a long way since the first performance in Pinnaroo Institute 3.5 years ago, when the company was new and only 26 people bothered to come to the Institute and see what they were all about.” (9 August 1989) By 1988, RYT had presented nine productions, and many of which explored the history of the region or serious social issues experienced by young people. RYT was incorporated in 1995 and our founding board chairperson, John Dawes, is still a member on our board today.  

One of the best things about a youth company turning 36 is the way in which RYT is a part of the community here in the Riverland. We are our own extended family. Children of RYT alumni are in our classes as participants and tutors, wedding photos have been taken outside our office and a hunt through our archives will turn up Christmas letters, countless thank you notes and baby announcements. Alumni describe RYT as “a second home” and “a safe space where you could be yourself” and praise RYT for the way in which it “proactively dismantled access barriers,” and created “opportunities for leadership but also (had) lots of entry points to drop in.” We hope to continue to live up to this wonderfully rich, welcoming and accessible heritage for many years to come.