Applications have now closed.
Adelaide Festival Centre’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival and centrED invite you to nominate yourself or a talented performing arts student currently in Year 10 or 11 to participate in the Class of Cabaret 2025 program. The successful applicants will take part in rehearsals and workshops throughout Terms 1 & 2 culminating in performances during Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2025.
Students will receive mentorship in the art of cabaret performance from two renowned artists and tuition from one of Adelaide's leading vocal teachers. In addition, Adelaide Festival Centre's CentrED program will provide a Department for Education teacher to guide each student through assessments to achieve SACE Creative Arts Course Stage 2 or Community Studies Stage 1 for accreditation by the conclusion of the program.
A live round of auditions will take place during Term 4, Week 2 (Wednesday 23 October & Thursday 24 October 2024), and applicants will be contacted to confirm audition times by COB Monday 30 September.
Applicants will be notified of auditions results via email the week following auditions.
If we require further information, we will contact applicants.
There is no other program that offers such incredible mentorship for young performers.
As an artist, I now see art from a whole new perspective. I can go on to create art that is unique and authentic to me while being fierce, unapologetic and unafraid.
About Class of Cabaret
Class of Cabaret provides a unique learning opportunity for talented, passionate and courageous secondary students from various high schools to share their own perspectives through cabaret performance.
Class of Cabaret began in 2010 under the artistic direction of David Campbell at Adelaide Cabaret Festival. In 2025, Class of Cabaret's sixteenth year, students will develop the skills to engage the audience as they explore issues and ideas, using the cabaret artform as a voice for their generation.
Adelaide Cabaret Festival provides an expert team to develop each performer’s skills through masterclasses, workshops, and a bootcamp throughout Terms 1 & 2. The participants produce two spectacular shows for a ticketed public performance as part of the 2025 Adelaide Cabaret Festival, while also gaining accreditation towards their education. They will also receive guidance from an experienced accompanist, tuition from one of Adelaide's leading vocal teachers and mentorship in the art of cabaret performance from two renowned Adelaide artists.
Whilst this program is aimed at performance development it is also an opportunity to gain SACE accreditation which is an integral part of the experience. Students enrol cross-institutionally and work with a Department for Education SACE teacher to achieve 10 credits in either Creative Arts Stage 2 or Community Studies Stage 1. These courses will run during Class of Cabaret rehearsals.
Students have the additional opportunity of enrolling cross-institutionally to develop performing art skills that complement the program and achieve 20 Stage 2 Credits in Creative Arts. This course runs from 4-7pm on Tuesday nights at Thebarton Senior College.
Being a part of this unique South Australian experience is a chance to enrich curriculum learning, develop friendships with students from other schools and meet with professional artists as part of the official Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
Preparing for Your Audition
Applicants for the Class of Cabaret program should prepare:
- Either two contrasting songs (maximum 2 minutes each)
- Or one 2min song and one 2min variety act (this could be dance, rap, stand-up comedy, spoken word poetry, clowning, magic or a monologue)
The two pieces should be performed off-by-heart for the panel at the live auditions and should be contrasting, in that they have a different feel, genre or reflect different sides of your personality or interests. Each piece should be a MAXIMUM of 2 minutes long, students should cut each song/act accordingly to ensure they don’t run over the time limit.
Find out more information about how to prepare here.
Class of Cabaret 2024
Photo Credit: Claudio Raschella.
Regional students are encouraged to apply for the Nathaniel O’Brien Class of Cabaret Scholarship.
The Nathaniel O’Brien Class of Cabaret Scholarship is supported by Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation.
Don’t miss the Class of Cabaret 2025 on stage!
A showcase of sixteen brave and brilliant high school students creating, rehearsing, and performing their own original cabaret in just one semester.
