IT'S a long way from the small cane farming community of Ingham in North Queensland, but Bec Carta has made Wangaratta her home and embraced the local theatre scene in a major way.
Bec, along with Lexi Aivaliotis and a committee of members, has re–started the Wangaratta Players 'Youthies' Group on Thursday nights and Bec said she can't wait to see what the next generation of 'drama kids' bring to the group and where it takes them.
"The Wangaratta Players are a fabulous theatre company who have been around for over 70 years which impresses me no end," Bec laughed.
"On one of my visits to Wangaratta before moving here, I got the opportunity to see a Youthies workshop being held at the Stage Door theatre.
"The kids were so into it and they were having so much fun while working on improving their craft; I loved their passion and I'm discovering there is a lot of love for theatre out here in rural Victoria."
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Bec's interest in theatre and drama started when she was in primary school when she won the Frank Fraser Memorial Lecturette competition for her school.
"It was at that point that I caught the acting bug," she said.
"I took private speech and drama classes in primary school and during my teenage years I was involved with my town's theatre group and we'd put on theatre restaurant productions at the local Italian club.
"Rome Sweet Rome is one I remember as being a real hoot, it was a comedy, which I love.
"Drama was my favourite class and the annual school musicals were always a 'must do'."
While completing year 12, Bec was leader of the social committee which held school socials and get the students involved in lunch time activities.
"It was another fun performance outlet for me and my friend and I would run silly little skits at school assembly to advertise our events.
"We had so much fun and I guess as a kid in a small town you have to make your own opportunities to perform."
Following high school, Bec continued to follow her passion for performance and completed a Bachelor of Theatre at James Cook University, finding employment with the Tropic Line Theatre Company as an ensemble member.
"As part of the ensemble I gained real life experience in all the parts of theatre production, backstage, onstage and front of house," Bec said.
"My theatre degree and Tropic Line gave me an 'all–rounder' theatre experience because we had to do a lot of the heavy lifting and preparations ourselves to put on a production; without the hard work of the ensemble there was no show."
Bec loved Young Talent Time when she was a kid and when deciding where to go and what to do next, she chose Melbourne because that's where Young Talent Time was from.
"I ended up working as a training facilitator in adult learning at a finance company which took me way off track from my life in theatre and I spent a long time wanting to get back into it, but never seemed to have the time."
That has now changed and Bec has leapt at the chance to dedicate plenty of her time to theatre locally.
"Moving to Wangaratta early last year was the best decision because it offered so many amazing opportunities for myself, my partner Heather and our son, and it wasn't that hard of a decision to make either because we were already in love with the area.
"My best friend married a Wangaratta fella and over the years we've spent many happy times going in and out of this beautiful place.
"We'd go camping or use it as a home base while we travelled around Australia and whenever we spent time here we would leave feeling like our batteries were recharged.
"There aren't many places you can go where the people look you in the eye and say g'day, so I guess that is what attracted us most to Wangaratta."
Bec said she was pleased to be involved with Lexi, Jo, Gillian and Haylee and to have the opportunity to share her love and knowledge of theatre craft to the young people of Wangaratta and surrounds.
"Young people need to be around other young people on their journey into adulthood," Bec said.
"Performing arts, whether onstage, backstage or administratively, gives people an opportunity to work as a team and gain the confidence needed in life.
"Confidence, communication, empathy, planning, teamwork and commitment to seeing things through are only a few things that are gained from studying theatre.
"I'm certain that Youthies will give its participants something to be proud of, something to take with them into their careers, and something special to look back on and hold dear."
Bec is also playing Ms Boo in the Wangaratta Players upcoming production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice directed by Shane Douthie.
"The word "amateur" comes from a French word meaning: "lover of", so an amateur is someone who does something for the "love of' it – that is why Lexi and I are running the new Youthies drama classes: for the love of it."
Youthies is held Thursdays at the Yarrunga Scout Hall, Vincent Road, Wangaratta for eight to 12 year olds from 4pm–5pm and 13 to 17 year olds from 5.30pm–7pm.
For more information or to join, email w.players.youthies@hotmail.com.
