Will Maslen (year six at St Joseph’s Primary School, Gloucester) and Connor Langley (year eight at St Clare’s High School, Taree) are both vocalists in this year’s ASPIRE production.

The students travel to Adamstown to take part in the program at St Pius X High School. 

This is Connor’s third year in ASPIRE as he takes on a feature vocalist role for this year’s production, titled Dark Matter.

This is Will’s first year taking part in ASPIRE.

Now in its seventh year, a collection of actors, dancers, vocalists and musicians from primary and secondary schools in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle take part in ASPIRE – an audition-based drama, dance, music and creative and performing arts program.

An initiative of the Catholic Schools Office, ASPIRE provides opportunity for students with a passion for the performing arts to grow, perform and shine.

Dark Matter explores what’s really going on under the surface for the staff and students of St Albert’s Secondary College as they enter a lockdown and nobody seems to really know why.

ASPIRE opens at the Civic Theatre in Newcastle on August 1, with three shows already being sold out. Some tickets are still available on Friday, August 3 and Saturday August 4, both at 7pm.