Presented by Ms Trotter in partnership with Seymour Performers Workshop, the Performing Arts Kids (PAK) Project is the latest opportunity for kids in Seymour to express themselves and embark on a creative journey.
“It’s a program based around providing kids, especially in Seymour and surrounds, the opportunity to experience the performing arts,” Ms Trotter said.
“It’s brining more opportunity to kids here.”
Having grown up between Seymour and Shepparton, Ms Trotter has first-hand experience of the lack of access kids in regional areas have to the arts.
Although she was lucky enough to explore her passion of performing through being granted opportunities to enhance her knowledge in school, being involved in local performances and even being part of the Melbourne Theatre Company Scholarship Program, Ms Trotter knew those chances were not as accessible to other kids in the region.
After discovering her love of classical voice in VCE, having been able to do lessons with a teacher from the Victorian Opera in Melbourne during Year 12, Ms Trotter undertook a Bachelor of Music at Monash University with every intention to become a performer herself.
However, it was the escape that she found in the world of performing growing up that led her to find passion in sharing that escape with kids in regional areas.
“Rather than worrying about being the performer myself and being the one that everyone’s watching and centre of stage, I just felt that it was really rewarding to give back to kids and create a space for kids where there is no judgment,” she said.
After completing her degree, Ms Trotter felt drawn to return to the community in which she spent many of her childhood years.
She began teaching at Notre Dame College in Shepparton, and then worked with the Song Room, an Australian education organisation which focuses on providing kids with access to the arts.
Ms Trotter said her commitment to giving kids the chance to express themselves through the arts had only grown over the course of her journey.
“I think I discovered my love of working with kids and sharing that special magic that is music and performance,” she said.
“I think it’s a really underestimated tool for people.
“For kids that are having a hard time, it’s a way that they can put their focus elsewhere and delve into themselves.”
Ms Trotter also has hopes to create a less daunting space for those going into the arts.
“I think sometimes with the arts, and especially theatre, once you enter the professional world there is an environment of competition and I don’t think that should come in to play for kids,” she said.
“It needs to be open and friendly.
“That’s the change I want to see in the professional community as well, that there’s no judgment, there’s no limit of space in a cast and everyone has that opportunity.”
Ms Trotter runs on the motto of “you need to be the change you want to see” and she hopes to start from the bottom up in order to do what she can to enact change on the world of the performing arts.
The PAK Project will be running every Friday of each school term, starting on February 7.
Sessions will be split up into years 1 to 3 from 3.50pm to 4.40pm, years 4 to 6 from 4.20pm to 5.35pm and years 7 to 12 from 5.45pm to 7.10pm.
Each session will have a focus on three aspects of the arts: drama, movement and music.
Ms Trotter said each session would centre on “bringing back that energy of the arts being fun and not so regimental”.
“I’d love to see as many people as possible,” she said.
“It’s really just going to be about giving them a big burst of energy and joy.”
More information on session times and pricing can be found on the Seymour Performers Workshop website at spworkshop.org.au/thepakproject/
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