For 37 years, Backbone Youth Arts has championed young artists as a Magandjin (Brisbane)-based community organisation. With a passion for nurturing creative expression, we support young artists aged 30 and under, encouraging curiosity, experimentation, and the exploration of new ideas across diverse art forms.

We believe in fostering an environment where risk-taking is celebrated, and essential stories are shared. Our programming is year-round, offering workshops, performances, residencies, festivals, events, and valuable training and resources for young artists. We also run a creative space that serves as a hub for both artistic expression and community engagement.

We pride ourselves on working collaboratively with young artists, offering unique development strategies that empower individuals and create pathways for growth. Backbone is committed to being an integral part of the creative landscape for young artists, today and in the future.

Backbone Theatre for Babies & Brymore Productions Present
What's in the Woods? By Brymore Productions

Sean Bryan - Performer
Hollie Bryan - Director

Backbone Youth Arts is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Backbone Youth Arts is proudly supported by Brisbane City Council.

‘What’s In The Woods?’ was the recipient of a 2025 Adelaide Fringe Fund Grant from Arts Unlimited and Arts South Australia.

'What's In The Woods?' features targeted, developmentally appropriate content, performance delivery and sensory/play activities for three distinct age groups (0-1s, 1-2s and 2-3s) which is unique even within the Theatre For The Very Young space.

The production connects parents, families and caregivers with other like minded people going through similar experiences, promoting connection and community, whilst combatting isolation suffered postpartum or as new parents and caregivers.

The production is incredibly appealing to the audience as parents and families with very young children are looking for exciting new activities that get them out of the house and engaging with their local community.

Following our runs in Brisbane, and tour seasons in South Australia and Adelaide the following assets are currently available for immediate use:

• Marketing Copy,
• Digital/Social Assets
• Promo Video
• Production photography
• Promo photography
• Accessibility social story
• Parental support collateral available on line and at the performance.
• Existing effective social marketing strategies and categories from previous seasons.

Additionally we can create and adapt imagery, video and collateral to suit venue requirements with short turnaround.

This production is designed to engage the community with Arts institutions and venues within a locality, for continued shared experiences into the future, whilst promoting and encouraging good parental and family mental health.

The production can be programmed in a variety of ways to encourage audience and community engagement, from single performances to repeat runs across multiple years. The production features different content and sensory activities for the specific developmental age groups allowing audiences to grow with the show, while building their confidence in attending arts spaces and venues with young children, encouraging further engagement with the venue and their programming through repeat attendance.

Our Brisbane seasons have seen 23% of audience members return for at least a second performance of the show, and 8% attend four or more performances within six months.

Additionally, resources from local and national family support networks can encourage dialogue, or provide a platform for young families that may be struggling, to seek help, improving family mental health within the community.

Workshops for local artists interested in working with this demographic utilising the Backbone Theatre For Babies framework can be delivered, along with accessibility information sessions for venues to make their spaces more accessible for young families.