Saplings By Hannah Belanszky

“I wasn’t there ’cause I wanted to be. I was there ’cause I had to be, okay? If Josh hadn’t eaten my noodles, I wouldn’t be here…” 

Set to a soundtrack of rap and hip-hop created by young people in the youth justice system, Saplings offers an honest, raw look at the adult consequences faced by some of our most vulnerable. 

Through a series of short interwoven scenes, the voices and experiences of young people navigating Australia’s youth justice system are captured in this high-energy emotional performance, brought to life by an exceptional group of First Nations actors and creatives. 

Yani, Kai, Shanika and Lachlan each have their own hopes, dreams and struggles. From wanting to go to the Easter Show to seeking a sense of home, their desires are relatable—yet complicated by their interactions with the justice system. As the play unfolds, it raises important questions about how young people grow and thrive while facing systemic barriers and societal expectations. 

Yuwaalaraay playwright Hannah Belanszky and Kalkadoon director Abbie-Lee Lewis bring their exceptional talent to Saplings, a collection of hilarious and heartbreaking stories born from workshops with young people experiencing the youth justice system from Marrickville to Moree. This contemporary Australian drama is a poetic, personal, funny and unexpected production that will leave you questioning who’s really to blame within the complexities of the youth justice system—while celebrating the survival instincts of young people. 

This performance can be booked alongside the workshop Songwriting Workshops.

What to expect

Saplings places First Nations voices at the centre of its creative process, with Yuwaalaraay playwright Hannah Belanszky and Kalkadoon director Abbie-Lee Lewis leading the work—ensuring authentic storytelling that reflects the lived experiences of young First Nations people who have been affected by the justice system. 

Students will see: 

• Short interwoven scenes—performed by a cast of four actors—capturing the voices and experiences of young people navigating Australia’s youth justice system.
• Minimal sets and everyday props, sharp dialogue, music and shifting character roles.
• Please note: this performance includes coarse language (swearing), haze, loud noises and references to deceased First Nations peoples. 

Subject areas: Aboriginal Studies, Drama, Visual Arts, English, History.

General capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities: Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Understanding, Intercultural Understanding, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures, Personal and Social Capability. 

Key themes: Identity and belonging, civics and citizenship, celebrating diversity, systemic inequality, justice and resistance, cultural storytelling, family and survival, small acts with big consequences. 

This production is supported by the St George Foundation, Create NSW and Creative Australia. 

Sydney Opera House presents an Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) production