When the Leaves Fall

When the Leaves Fall

facilitator/script editor/director

A DIY production of a fresh new Australian play by teenagers about how they view themselves, adulthood and the strange help along the way

Judah feels like he’s hibernating after the death of a family member. $haniqua hides behind sass and a pair of earrings when the ‘top dog’ within her is really cowering. Willow wants to make worlds collide…

When the Leaves Fall is a fresh new Australian play by teenagers from Western Sydney that was developed through All For One – a collaborative writing project led by the Story Factory and Belvoir in 2018. Contracted by Belvoir, Chris was one of three core facilitators who met with students from Ashcroft High, Evans High, Liverpool Boys High and Thomas Reddall High on a weekly basis over two terms to lead a series of writing and improvisation activities, while supporting the participants to collaborate and channel their ideas towards developing the one play. The resultant script is entirely unique, embodying the thoughts, feelings, fears and humour of the participating teenagers.

As the Artistic Director/CEO of Tantrum Youth Arts, Chris collaborated with a new group of teenagers from Newcastle to present the world premiere of When the Leaves Fall in 2019. Ensemble members thought like directors and felt like performers to discover their own unique way to bring this completely out there yet deeply human play to life. Using everyday materials and every inch of the Tantrum Studio, audiences were charmed and moved by the ideas and perspectives of teenagers growing up in Australia today.