Drama

Enquiries

The drama team
The Arts Unit
drama.artsunit@det.nsw.edu.au
02 8512 1175

Festivals

Festivals bring schools together for collaborative, impactful experiences that display the passion, skills and creativity of drama students and teachers.

They encourage the development and teaching of drama programs at a school level while providing an opportunity for students and teachers to work towards a quality performance in a professional venue.

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Programs

Bathurst

Bathurst Small Schools CAPA Festival

Program Dance Drama Music Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 6
Students work collaboratively with other small schools to perform in a professional venue.
Central Coast

Central Coast Schools Showcase

Program Dance Drama Music
Kindergarten to Year 12
An annual showcase that features the very best performances from Central Coast public schools. 
Young

Cherry Jam

Program Dance Drama Music
Kindergarten to Year 12
Schools collaborate on combined items and showcase their performance pieces.
Batemans Bay

Far South Coast Drama Festival

Program Drama
Kindergarten to Year 12
The festival encourages and supports the development of drama programs at a school level by providing an opportunity to work towards a quality performance in a professional venue.
Newcastle

Hunter Drama Festival

Program Drama
Kindergarten to Year 11
A showcase of drama works from schools across the Hunter, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens enabling students to build knowledge, skills and understanding of performing and appreciating drama.
Campbelltown

In the Spotlight Drama Festival

Program Drama VET
Preschool to Year 12 drama
Showcases the skills and talents of students and teachers in creating and performing drama. The festival demands of students a higher degree of focus, commitment and performance.
Griffith

KROP

Program Dance Drama Music
Kindergarten to Year 12
Showcasing performances by students in a professional setting.
Chatswood

LightsUP Drama Festival Chatswood

Program Drama VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
A showcase of public school drama pieces and opportunities for students to build knowledge, skills and understanding of performing and appreciating dramatic works.
Penrith

LightsUP Drama Festival Penrith

Program Drama
Kindergarten to Year 12
LightsUP Drama Festival Penrith showcases public school drama pieces and provids the opportunity for students to build knowledge, skills and understanding of performing and appreciating dramatic works.

State Drama Festival

Program Drama Film
Kindergarten to Year 11

The Festival celebrates classroom drama achievements of students in Kindergarten to Year 11. This event is a celebration of drama works showcasing strong drama outcomes in classrooms from across the state.
Sydney Olympic Park

Pulse Alive

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
This large-scale performing arts event provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.
Sydney Olympic Park

Pulse Alive

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
This large-scale performing arts event provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.
Broken Hill

Pulse Broken Hill

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Pulse Broken Hill is a performing arts event that provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.

Pulse Deniliquin

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Pulse Deniliquin is a performing arts event that provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.
Moree

Pulse Moree

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Pulse Moree is a performing arts event that provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.
Mildura

Pulse Sunraysia

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Pulse Sunraysia is a performing arts event that provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.
Queanbeyan

Queanbeyan Performing Arts Festival

Program Dance Drama Film Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Providing students with an authentic, professional performance experience in front of a large audience
Bega

SCLC Performing Arts Festival

Program Dance Drama Music Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 12
A performance extravaganza showcasing students and staff across the Sapphire Coast Learning Community.
Campbelltown

Shining Stars

Program Dance Drama Film Music Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with a disability
Students engage in a relevant and meaningful arts education program.
South West Sydney

Shining Stars Drama

Program Drama
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with a disability
Provides opportunities for students with a disability to engage in drama workshops that cater to the needs, interests and abilities of each student.
Monaro

Snowy Monaro Performing Arts Festival

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Performing arts festival featuring schools items in dance, drama and music for public schools across Eden Monaro and beyond.
Wollongong

Southern Stars

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
An exciting arena event providing valuable performance and learning opportunities for students in the arts.
Goulburn | Picton

Southern Tablelands Drama Festival

Program Drama
Kindergarten to Year 12
Creating a platform where students and teachers work together towards a shared artistic vision, exploring storytelling, movement, and theatrical expression.
Sydney Olympic Park

SpecFest

Program Dance Drama Film Music VET
SpecFest is the ultimate outdoor entertainment hub with great food, activations and chill-out zones for the whole family to enjoy.
Newcastle

Star Struck

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
An exciting arena event that promotes excellence in arts education.
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Upcoming applications

Students on stage performing at the State Drama Ensemble

NSW Public Schools State Drama Festival – school application

Chippendale
Kindergarten to Year 11

Applications closing: Fri 11 Sep 2026

The State Drama Festival is a showcase of dramatic works and short films by students from NSW public schools from across the state. Performances are selected from regional drama festivals or schools can submit an application to be included. All pieces in the festival are reviewed by a selection panel.
Pulse Alive logo

Pulse Alive 2027 – drama ensemble nominations closing

Sydney Olympic Park
Years 5 to 12 (in 2027)

Nominations closing: Fri 18 Sep 2026

The Pulse Alive team are seeking interested students from Years 5 to 12 in 2027 from NSW public schools to form the drama ensemble for Pulse Alive 2027.
A group of students hold small round lanterns lit up in their hands with other students holding wooden rods stand either side

Drama tutor 2026 – application

Region: all
Teachers

Ongoing application

This is for all teachers, teaching artists and industry professionals who are interested in tutoring in drama programs at The Arts Unit.
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Upcoming events

Students performing on stage

Hunter Drama Festival

Newcastle
Kindergarten to Year 11

Dates: Mon 14 and Tue 15 Sep 2026
Performance time: 6:30 pm

Shining Stars performance

Shining Stars Showcase

Campbelltown
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with a disability
To celebrate the completion of Shining Stars creative arts programs, students have the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned in the Shining Stars Showcase.
Band members mid-jump on stage, playing guitars energetically, with vibrant stage lights and smoke in the background. Drummer seated behind them.

SpecFest

Sydney Olympic Park
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Pulse Alive logo

Pulse Alive

Sydney Olympic Park
Kindergarten to Year 12

Cast A – Mon 15 Mar 2027 7:30 pm
Cast B – Tue 16 Mar 2027 7:30 pm
Cast C – Thu 18 Mar 2027 7:30 pm
Cast D – Fri 19 Mar 2027 7:30 pm

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