About
Wise Young Things is an intergenerational storytelling film project connecting young people with senior citizens born outside Australia who now reside in their local area.
Through storytelling workshops, senior citizens are facilitated to share memories from their childhoods with young participants, with a focus on place, immigration, family, friends, language, culture, and changing technology. Audio of these stories is recorded, edited, and curated. These recordings are embodied by young people throughout performance workshops which are based in theatrical techniques aimed at building vital 21st Century skills. The young artists develop and rehearse nuanced lip-sync performances using the audio recordings as their soundtrack, which are filmed in distinct recognisable places in the local area. These are edited to create a film made entirely of the experiences, voices, faces and places of your community.
This project is 100% community engagement and participation!
It pushes the boundaries of how we communicate narrative, share experiences, and create empathy. It is a celebration of the diversity of people that make up any given community, and it builds mutual understanding between generations.
What you see?
Young people performing the stories in their local area.
What you hear?
The voices of senior citizens sharing their stories.
SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL WELLBEING
The storytelling and performance workshops have been developed in alignment with the Kids Research Institute Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) framework. The project aims to increase SEWB in all participants. The idea is that communities are strengthened and wellbeing is improved when we build strong intergenerational relationships, understand immigrant and second-generation experiences, and engage in quality arts activities.
LEAD CREATIVE
Asha Cornelia Cluer (She/Her)
Photo credit: Kelly Bergsma 2025
Asha is a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) facilitator and mixed-medium artist from Walyalup Fremantle. She trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in the UK where she was based from 2012 – 2022. As an actor, her work includes network televsions and multiple West End, UK No. 1 Tour and Main Stage Australian productions. In 2023 she was co-facilitator for Ngalaka Daa (Yirra Yaakin & WAYTCo), and Resident Director for ARCO (WA Youth Theatre Company). She was the Immersive Show Director and Main Stage Assistant Director for The Hollow Cause (Keshet Works, 2024) at the Naval Store. She holds a BA (Political Science & International Relations) and was awarded Convocation, the UWA Graduates Association Prize (Level 1). As a facilitator she regularly delivers workshops for Barking Gecko, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Black Swan State Theatre Company, Australian Theatre for Young People, WA Youth Theatre Company, AMA Actors Studio, and Emergent Academy.
“I was genuinely impressed by Asha’s achievements with her students, and the interviews with retired individuals connecting with younger generations deserve recognition.”