Cornish College Year 11 students Gus Bounds and Gabe Cali performed in Lord of the Flies at the Arts Centre Melbourne on April 5-9.

Gus and Gabe were part of a thorough audition process that resulted in 23 boys and men aged 10 to 25 from across Victoria being selected. They joined the ensemble cast in Sir Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and Re:Bourne adaption of William Golding’s classic novel. Sir Matthew is recognised as the UK’s most successful and popular choreographer and director.

Gus almost missed the vital call with the news. “I was at home but my phone was in the other room when they called me, and afterwards I heard this little sound go off and I raced in, grabbed it, called them back within 30 seconds, I reckon. And yeah…I got in.”

Re:Bourne is the charitable arm of Sir Matthew’s New Adventures. Founded in 2008, it delivers projects and courses that will find, develop and inspire the next generation of dance-theatre professionals. Re:Bourne has held more than 800 workshops, been involved in 50 projects and worked with 15,000 emerging artists and young people.

Along with the rest of the ensemble, many of whom had little or no previous experience, Gus and Gabe worked tirelessly for months through intensive workshops, putting into action their passion for movement with chorographers and dance professionals who watched as their confidence grew.

Gabe said, "We got to hang out and talk to the professionals as well as the young ensemble, and all of the older guys looked out for the younger guys. It was crazy performing at the state theatre in front of thousands of people. It really confirmed how much I love performing and what I want to do going forward."

As time flies by, keep an eye out for these two young stars.