Putting on a show as a student means bearing the financial burden of production, balancing the time spent towards craft with studies and jobs, and handling all the issues which may arise during production. But regardless of these difficulties, students and professionals alike continue to volunteer as artists at Maya Youth in Performing Arts.
“We’re trying to build a safety net. It’s like here is a huge task and here’s some safety and in doing that, we start a little flame. And as we meet with the production team, we pass on that flame… I think that’s what keeps people together,” says Neythirun Sivanesan, who is the president at Maya Arts and a Board member.
Indeed, an idea that was agreed upon by all board members interviewed, was the heart of Maya Arts, its family-like dynamics, which has been present throughout the years since its inception.
“Every year, I see people forming friendships and sometimes relationships. And now being a bit senior, I saw that happen with the team in Family Rules,” says Chief Experience Officer Anusha Puvanendiranathan
Running since 2012, Maya Arts is an organisation that has three purposes; to have an artistic impact, to be a charitable organisation and to encourage youth development. The productions also typically have live music, boasting a noteworthy band, as well as a dance ensemble.
During COVID-19, the organisation, like all other small businesses and theatre companies, struggled to keep up the momentum they had in their previous productions.
“Building the culture would be tough because there would be online rehearsals and different ways of interacting with people and it is difficult to build an engaged culture,” says Neythirun.
But with their production of Family Rules (2024), they were able to resume their usual operating rhythm.
“The response to the production has been overwhelmingly positive,” he says.
“There is an energy that I cannot describe in words… I think the audience felt that energy, that fulfilment of doing something really hard… and things being better than you envisioned it to be.”
As a result of the show’s success, there has been a flow of people from the previous production to next year’s production No Church in the Wild, which members are already working towards with a sense of urgency, wary of the potential delays which could impede the process of creating a production.
Katbahan Karunakaran, one of the producers for NCW, seeks to provide professional developmental opportunities for volunteers as well. He recently secured a deal with a high-profile corporation for a food run to give food out to the homeless, which also serves as a networking opportunity for volunteers.
The success of their most recent production has had a positive impact on the greater community as well. Since 2020, Maya has been partnering with HealthLab. The charity is an initiative run by the Menzies School of Health Research, to fund the creation of health labs within remote areas providing educational resources to Indigenous and marginalised youth.
The ticket sales of Family Rules coupled with that of previous productions, has allowed Maya Arts to donate $15 000 which has been used to create three health labs and has impacted 240 Indigenous and remote students.
“As South Asian members of the community, all of us have the privilege to get some pretty good degrees and education…there’s a number of stats which show there’s a divide between immigrants and Indigenous youth in Australia, who are fundamentally the first Australians,” says Neythirun.
The organisation’s success has little to do with having a high barrier to entry. In fact, most volunteers at Maya Arts lead a double life with professional backgrounds and have limited knowledge of the arts. Chief Production Officer Tushar Prasad states that contrary to the way that drama clubs at university operate, the values of building a community and strong relationships takes precedence over demanding artistic excellence from the get-go.
“As long as we can keep it grassroots and we keep our culture, that in itself is a really great achievement,” he says.
The ability of the organisation to foster growth is evident in the journeys of newcomers such as Sukruthi Kamath, who commenced as a performer and has had the opportunity to embrace her passion of promoting South Asian talent through her marketing role at the organisation.
As a safe space which encourages the youth to push the boundaries, Maya Arts has fostered new ideas, been the backdrop to new relationships and has allowed for professional development.
“Even if you are working full time, you want to participate…every time I come to a meeting, I am just so inspired,” Anusha says joyfully. With a dedicated membership, there is no questioning that Maya Arts will continue to thrive in years to come.
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