Seldom does the Adelaide Fringe feature an entrant from a secondary school, yet the Riverbanks College Ensemble has done just that. RBC Ensemble is a student-led theatre company comprising students from Years 7 to 12 at Riverbanks College in Angle Vale. In a uniquely collaborative model, students lead every aspect of production—both creative and technical—while teachers volunteer their time to provide mentorship and work alongside them.

Their 2026 Adelaide Fringe production, Trackers by Donna Hughes, is an ambitious and timely choice. First published in 2024, the play earned an AWGIE Award from the Australian Writers’ Guild and was shortlisted for the WA Premier’s Book Awards in the Young Adult category. With its exploration of artificial intelligence, surveillance, and information control, Trackers is an ideal vehicle for young performers to engage with thought-provoking ideas relevant to their generation.

---

As Sam Turing, Shaylee delivers a believable and grounded performance, effectively capturing both the character’s vulnerability and quiet defiance. Her opening interaction with Sigrid, the new Siri, was engaging and well-paced, voiced by Elaina (also Grenerger) as the clear, commanding voice behind the device along with the multiple CIs that punctuated the scene.

---

Notably impressive was the digital design—integrating computer screens into the set and incorporating multimedia elements throughout the production. While visual cues occasionally raced ahead of the dialogue, making synchronisation tricky, the ambition behind this integration shows a deep creative investment and a commendable understanding of modern theatrical storytelling.

Now in only their second year as an ensemble, Riverbanks College students have again proven themselves capable of producing work that is brave, imaginative, and socially relevant. Their dedication is clear in every detail of Trackers, and it’s exciting to imagine where their creativity will take them next.