Through The Riff Festival, the Q Theatre provide secondary schools across the region with a platform to engage in hands-on theatre-making, working alongside industry professionals to develop and stage original performances in a vibrant youth theatre festival.

The Riff Festival offers drama students and teachers the opportunity to explore diverse theatrical styles, deepen their creative practice, and collaborate in a professional theatre environment. School groups, typically from years 10 and 11, participate in a guided creative process—transforming ideas into fully realized performances.

The program is built around two key experience-based outcomes:

  1. Understanding the theatre-making process – from forming an ensemble, generating ideas, and developing a script to rehearsing, performing and reflecting on the work.
  2. Exploring theatre as a collaborative artform – recognizing the vital roles of creators, technicians, coordinators, publicists, and audiences in bringing a production to life.
  • Before Applying: Please download and read Riff 2026 Information Kit.
  • Application: Schools can apply by for the 2026 Festival completing and submitting the
    Riff 2026 Schools Application Form by Friday, 27 February 2026.
  • Enquiries: For all festival related enquiries please contact Q Theatre’s team at creativelearning@ppandva.com.au or on (02) 4723 7600 and select option 2 – Studio Q. For booking related enquiries please contact Box Office (02) 4723 7600 and select option 3 – Ticketing Services.