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| Name | Children's Performing Company of Australia |
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| Formed | 1984 |
| Location(s) | Melbourne |
| Artistic director(s) | Patrick Conlan |
| Website | http://www.cpca.com.au |
The Children's Performing Company of Australia, or CPCA, is a Melbourne-based performing arts training provider for young people, established in 1984 as the Victorian Children's Theatre. It notably encompasses the Young Australian Broadway Chorus and the Victorian Youth Theatre. Since its foundation, the CPCA has expanded to more than eighteen venues across the greater Melbourne area to become one of the largest performing arts tuition providers in the state of Victoria.[1]
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The CPCA offers two separate streams of performance training, in addition to a touring ensemble and a program for preschool-aged children. Students may join one or both of these streams. Both streams have hierarchical structure wherein students may be 'promoted' to a more advanced group, based on the student's skill level and experience.
In 1995, the CPCA established four theatre ensembles with a strong musical theatre focus. These expanded to become what is now known as the Young Australian Broadway Chorus (YABC), the stream which trains students in singing and dance. The YABC's first performance was held in 1998 at the National Theatre in St Kilda - a gala performance much simpler than the more extravagant shows that are put on in the same theatre by YABC students today.[2]
The Victorian Youth Theatre (VYT) is the drama branch of CPCA's performing arts training activities, which originally traded in the 1980s as the Victorian Children's Theatre. While trading as the Victorian Children's Theatre, the course focused largely on improvised drama, but eventually the curriculum was expanded to include script work and acting for the camera. The VYT now includes almost 800 students.[3]
Since 1996, the CPCA has conducted several international tours, with both YABC and VYT students performing in a variety of high-profile venues including Disneyland and the Acorn Theatre off Broadway. Countries visited by touring CPCA students include France, Greece, Singapore, Italy, the United States and England.
The CPCA has offered a performing arts program for children aged 5 to 7 since 2006. This program was officially launched under the name Beginners OnStage in late 2008.[4]
The Talent Company of Australia (TCA) was established in 2003 to provide CPCA students with entertainment industry representation. In addition to providing talent management services to students, the TCA provides skill-building workshops to members.[5]