THE “Come Alive” festival of museum theatre is a uniquely Canberran event.

Originally conceived by drama teacher Peter Wilkins, the festival, now in its 14th year, picks up on the rich resources in our national collections, so that students from secondary schools and colleges visit a museum  – this year the National Library or the National Portrait Gallery – and select a character, an object or an event that inspires them to write a play. It could also be a physical theatre piece, dance work, musical number, circus show or film.

The resulting staged performance piece might be based on a researched event, such as the Eureka Stockade, or an object such as an item of clothing from a convict, or one of the brilliant personalities in which our history abounds.

This year the characters chosen include ballerina Marilyn Rowe, sailor Kay Cottee, artists Judy Cassab, William Robinson, Charles Blackman and William Yang, Ned Kelly and tightrope walker Con Colleano.

Over the years the performances have been held in different theatrettes across town and this year’s location will be Mill Theatre in Fyshwick.

Schools taking part this year include Marist College, Trinity Christian School and Daramalan College (October 31), Namadgi School, St Mary Mackillop College and St Edmunds College (November 1) Canberra Girls Grammar School and St Clare’s College (November 2), Dickson College, Lake Ginninderra College and Warehouse Circus (November 3.)

Come Alive Festival, Mill Theatre, 3.30pm and 6pm daily, October 30-November 3. Book here