Creativity, inspiration and the energy of youth will be in abundance when the Stage Challenge and J Rock returns to Baycourt's Addison Theatre this Thursday and Friday.

The youngest and brightest minds from 15 schools from the Bay and beyond will take centre stage for the annual competitions which offers young Kiwis a chance to showcase their dance, drama and design skills.

Members of the winning Tauranga Girls' High School group performing at the 2015 Stage Challenge. Photo: QuikPix

Event Manager Hazel Reid says the two competitions make a positive impact on so many young people's lives.

'Stage Challenge and J Rock gives our youth invaluable life experience and acts as the perfect platform to showcase talent in all its forms.”

Students work together by combining their creative, youthful minds to portray social messages, political messages, significant community concepts, and pure fantasy through their performances, which last up to 8 minutes each.

These themes reflect issues concerning the students and aim to have the audience leave the event thinking critically.

In 2015, Tauranga Girls' College won the Open Division of Stage Challenge, while Golden Sands School won ‘The Spirit of J Rock' Award.

Stage Challenge has been part of New Zealand's youth performing arts scene since 1993 and is a subsidiary of the Global Rock Challenge.

About 16,000 students from up to 200 schools will be competing in this year's Stage Challenge and J Rock competitions.

Students from Katikati College performing at the 2015 Stage Challenge. Photo: QuikPix

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND PERFORMANCE THEMES:

• Aquinas College (Raw) – Old Poverty Vs New Poverty
• Bethlehem College – Alienation: A Refugee's Struggle For Survival
• Forest View High School (Raw) – The Truth About Tokoroa
• Hauraki Plains College (Raw) – Some Things Never Change
• Katikati College – The Perfect Fit?
• Mount Maunganui Intermediate School – Opening The Box
• Otumoetai College – Syrian Refugee Crisis
• Otumoetai College – Team 1 (Raw) – What Is Wealth?
• Otumoetai College – Team 2 (Raw) – Danger In Our Waters
• Papamoa College – Dia De Los Muertos – The Day Of The Dead
• Papamoa College (Raw) I've Got The Magic In Me
• Tauranga Girls' College – Sacred Journey – I Am Strength, I Am Beauty, I Am
• Te Aroha College – Make A Wish
• Whangamata Area School (Raw) – Aihe Maui – Whawhai Nui Tonu Ake
• Golden Sands School – Play In The Bay
• Tahatai Coast School – Maori Legend Of Rangi And Papa

Stage Challenge and J Rock returns to Baycourt's Addison Theatre on Thursday, June 16, at 7pm, and Friday, June 17, at 6.30pm. For more information visit: www.stagechallenge.co.nz

Golden Sands School performing at last year's J Rock Competition. Photo: QuikPix