As in most country communities, sport dominates leisure time and conversation among many young people in the Pilbara.  Those more interested in the arts can be left feeling isolated and bored by the range of activities on offer.

However, the Karratha Youth Theatre has been offering a creative outlet for young people for more than twenty years. 

Regular activities include drama and dance and one-off workshops on subjects like clowning, magic, script-writing and puppetry have also been held in the past year.

In 2008, the group is staging a musical production featuring songs from Grease, Annie and High School Musical – creating a focus for students and welcome live entertainment for the wider community.

“Karratha Youth Theatre enables students to express themselves creatively, build their self-confidence, reduce boredom and offer a valuable sense of belonging,” explained Karratha Youth Theatre’s Chairperson Inga Ramsay.

“It also adds to the facilities for available to families, encouraging them to stay in the Pilbara.”

The Rio Tinto Community Partnerships Programme has recently agreed to fund a part-time Project Officer over the next two years to expand and improve the activities on offer.