Thursday 11 June 2026 (Term 2 Week 8)

• Technical rehearsals: 9 am – 12 pm or 1–4 pm
• Performance: 7 pm

Venue: Q Theatre, The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith

Tickets for the LightsUP Drama Festival Penrith will go on sale Monday 25 May. They are for sale directly from the venue.

• The Joan, Penrith

Prices

• Adult: $30
• Child: $25

Principals of participating schools are invited as special guests. Contact the program coordinator to arrange complimentary tickets.

Please contact box office by phone or email to arrange accessible seating.

Participation fee

• $16 per student per festival entry
• Schools will be responsible for collecting participation fees from their students and automatically debited for their participation in the festival via IC journal.

Professional opportunities

If you are a NSW department of education teacher and you would like to be involved in the running of the LightsUP Drama festival series, please apply online through The Arts Unit drama tutor application form.

VET work placement

At The Arts Unit, we offer comprehensive VET work placement for students in Years 11 and 12 to assist with the completion of mandatory work placement hours, as well as work experience opportunities tailored to students' interests and career aspirations. Please email the program coordinator if you would like to work with us at either of the LightsUP drama festival locations.

Online nominations for the 2026 LightsUP Drama Festival series will open in Term 1 2026. Nominations for the Penrith Festival will close on Friday 15 May (Term 2 Week 4).

Schools applying to participate in the LightsUP Drama Festival series are required to submit an audition video. 

Auditions videos should be uploaded to YouTube or Google Drive and the video link included in the application form. When uploading your video link ensure you have the correct sharing settings to allow the panel to view.

If you are unable to provide an audition video at the time of completing the form, it can be emailed to the program coordinator at a later date, provided it is before the nomination closing date.

Criteria for selection

All application audition items will be assessed by the LightsUP Drama Festival audition panel, based on the following criteria:

• Audience engagement
  The performance weaves authentic audience engagement throughout or at significant moments. Viewers are inspired to pay attention.
• Content
  Vocabulary and content are appropriate to an audience that may include young children. Challenging concepts are explained or otherwise illuminated.
• Action/pacing
  The performance is exciting. Movements are effectively planned and well placed to  add to the action. 
• Blocking
  Stage space and movement are used very effectively.
• Voice/dialogue
  There is an appropriate amount of dialogue. Voices are loud and clear; dialogue is easily understood and characters are distinguishable.
• Characterisation
  All performers have developed and sustained strong and believable roles
• Gesture
  Excellent development of characters through expressive and imaginative use of gesture and movement.
• Creativity
  The performance contains many creative details that spark moments of insight, delight, joy and/or reflection in the viewer.

Group size

• Maximum 30 students for primary and secondary groups

Performance length

• Primary school items – up to 8 minutes duration (recommended 5 – 6 minutes)
• Secondary school items –up to 12 minutes duration (recommended 8 – 10 minutes)
• This timing must include set and strike times of any props.

• Film the whole group from a fixed camera angle, not individual performers. It is important that all students are able to be viewed in the film.
• Use a tripod, particularly if panning to ensure a steady image
• Ensure that the video is of sufficiently high quality to allow the panel to view the details of your work and your performers
• If needed, cover any windows or doors in the room where the audition is being filmed, to avoid outside light interfering with the visual contrast in your video
• Ensure your audition video is within the time frame requirements outlined above