About

About Us

Tantrum is the Hunter’s playground for new artists.
Providing transformative arts experiences for 50 years.

Participation

We provide transformative creative arts and drama programs for ages 5+ that centre participants' voices.

Access and Inclusion

We are committed to ensuring arts experiences are for all. Everyone has the right to play.

Pathways to Professional

We create pathways for new artists to build sustainable careers, and provide professional development for arts educators.

We play with purpose.

As a not-for-profit co-operative and registered charity, for 50 years Tantrum has invested deeply in emerging artists, providing arts opportunities for children and young adults.

Through our youth-led drama workshops, we train young people aged 8-17 in theatre and performance making, and we debut original theatre shows throughout the year.

We support early career artists aged 18+, in all disciplines, to deepen their arts practices and business savvy skills, to build a sustainable career here in the Hunter.

We celebrate new artists’ voices through platforming original, bold performance.

Our award-winning flagship disability arts program for young adults, Accelerate Ensemble, is recognised for building community and empowering its participants to make bold theatre.

Delivering real impact.

Led by professional actors, writers, film makers, directors, and producers, our programs empower participants to grow in confidence, sharing their ideas and insights with thoughtful contributions that spark creativity and deepen artistic exploration. As they build connections, participants form meaningful relationships, support one another, and feel a strong sense of belonging in a space where everyone is valued.

Through hands-on experiences, their creativity flourishes, whether in performance, writing, art, technical practice, or professional skills - encouraging bold experimentation and imaginative problem-solving.

Most importantly, we create an environment where participants feel truly comfortable being themselves: expressing their feelings, asking for support, showing empathy, and building the resilience that helps them thrive both in and beyond the workshop.

We’re an employer of local artists and art workers who are passionate about taking a creative approach towards making a social impact, supporting young people to become makers and doers in their own way.

Industry connected.

By being a Tantrum artist, you are connected to our industry partners, including local councils, nationally significant theatre companies, and other youth arts leaders around the country.

Tantrum is a member of ASSITEJ, the international network of theatres, organisations, and individuals throughout the world who make theatre and performing arts for children and young people.

How can I become a Tantrum artist?

At Tantrum, we have room for all sorts of artists. You can:

- Attend weekly workshops to build your performance-making skills.

- Be a lead deviser on our major performance project of the year.

- Join the Noisemakers, our participant advisory group, to have even more impact on Tantrum’s activities.

- Undertake professional development with us to build your freelance arts practice.

- Be employed by Tantrum as a teaching artist, producer, designer.

How does Tantrum practice Inclusion?

Inclusion at Tantrum means we understand the need for both structure and flexibility in our approach to learning. We strive to have great communication with parents and caregivers, so we have the best knowledge and support strategies. We consider accessible resources, such as social stories, sensory items and quiet areas. It means we have an additional teaching artist who can take the time to support all participants to step in and out as they need. Inclusion at Tantrum is about openness, acceptance and enabling participants to perform and achieve in all Tantrum programs.

What is Tantrum's playground?

The Tantrum ‘playground’ for new work is a space for risk-taking, exploration of new ideas, and a testing ground to find new ways to engage audiences. It is an essential platform for young Australian artists to be heard, sharing their unique ideas, identities, and stories from the Hunter and beyond.

Youth Arts in the Hunter for 50 Years

Our History

Tantrum began as 2 Til 5 Youth Theatre in Charlestown in 1976 as a Saturday afternoon theatre making class, running from 2pm to 5pm.

In 1996, 2 Til 5 established Tantrum Theatre, an off-shoot company catering to emerging artists aged 18 to 25.

In 2000, the two companies merged and retained the name Tantrum Theatre.

In 2014, we relaunched as Tantrum Youth Arts to better reflect the work we do: supporting new artists to develop their skills in making, no matter what kind of art they want to make.

In 2026, Tantrum is celebrating 50 years of providing transformative arts experience for the young people of the Hunter.

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