Performing Arts

Drama                                

Introducing…Matilda!

Rehearsals have begun for our Senior School musical, Matilda. Our cast is working diligently to block scenes, learn their dialogue, rehearse the extensive (and challenging!) musical score and practise detailed choreography. The casting process itself began after Loreto’s Performing Arts Festival in June, and took three weeks to complete with several callback stages and in-depth script sessions. We are proud to announce Year 7 student Sophie as our eponymous heroine, Matilda. 

Sophie is twelve years old and has been a student at Loreto since Year 3. She discovered her love of musical theatre playing Peter Pan in the Year 5 production in 2024 and was honoured to perform a solo at the Catholic Schools’ Combined Choir Music Festival in Year 6 in 2025. That same year, she proudly served as Performing Arts Captain for Barry. She has been a passionate member of the College Choir since starting at Loreto, and this year joined Vocal Ensemble 3 and loved her first experience at Generations in Jazz. Over the past two summers, Sophie has performed with Pelican Productions, with her favourite role to date being Elle Woods in Legally Blonde last year. She is incredibly grateful to her singing teacher, Carolyn Ferrie, and all of the Loreto music and drama staff, whose guidance and encouragement over the past four years at Loreto have helped her grow in confidence and skill. Outside of her love for singing and theatre, Sophie is a WAG Level 5 gymnast with Saints Gymnastics Club. She is absolutely thrilled to be taking on the role of Matilda and can't wait to work with her school friends on this special production.

Sophie says, "I am excited to play Matilda because she has such a strong personality, and I’m up for the challenge of playing her."

Joining Sophie on stage will be Year 11 SACE Drama student, Elise, as her mother Mrs. Wormwood, and Stevie, Year 10, as Mr. Wormwood. Stevie says, "Mr Wormwood is something different for me; he’s fun, and we all hate him, but we love him for some reason too!" Elise reflected on what drew her to Mrs. Wormwood: "I’ve never played a character as loud and as "out there" as her, so I’m excited to try and embody her crazy personality."

We congratulate Sophie, Elise and Stevie and look forward to seeing their characters come to life.

Our musical will be staged across three nights from 26-28 November 2026. Rehearsals take place in St. Anne’s Performing Arts Centre on Thursday afternoons from 4 to 6pm and Sunday afternoons from 1 to 5pm throughout Terms 3 and 4, starting on Thursday 23 July. All ensemble members should be in attendance at every rehearsal unless expressly arranged with the Director.

Join us this year as we bring Roald Dahl's extraordinary story to life through Tim Minchin's music, movement and storytelling. From the fearless Matilda and the kind-hearted Miss Honey, to the terrifying Miss Trunchbull and the unforgettable students of Crunchem Hall, this production offers exciting opportunities for performers of all experience levels. 

Who or what was your introduction to the magic of theatre? We would like to hear about it. Reminisce about student productions you may have been in at school, discuss them with your daughter, and feel free to share your stories and photos with us at performingarts@loreto.sa.edu.au

Music

Catholic Schools Music Festival

This September, our Year 6 Choir will travel to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre to perform in the 38th Catholic Schools Music Festival.

The Festival is a truly unique event in South Australia which celebrates all aspects of music and performance across all Catholic schools. Over four nights, five hundred different students will perform each night, showcasing their talent and enthusiasm for music. Our Year 6 classes have been working diligently to learn their lyrics, music and actions, and will work closely with other primary and secondary schools in the Adelaide Archdiocese to bring it all together in one large-scale unified performance. Loreto students will be performing on Wednesday 23 September - save the date!

In this Franciscan Jubilee Year celebrating peace, we invite you to witness the remarkable talent of South Australia's young people on one of four evenings presented by the Catholic Schools Music Festival. Featured soloists, big bands, vocal groups and more will demonstrate an astonishing calibre of musicianship, while the 500-voice choir is sure to leave audiences inspired.

Behind every performance is a story of dedication, creativity, courage, and countless hours of practice. These students have poured their hearts into bringing this moment to life, not just to entertain, but to move, inspire and connect with you. Your applause means the world. Let’s celebrate their incredible efforts together! 

Tickets are on sale via Ticketek from Monday 3 August.

Spotlight on Co-curricular Staff

Sue Peters

Our College is fortunate to have a strong network of co-curricular tutors who provide regular tutelage to students in a variety of disciplines. Over the coming months, we will spotlight these wonderful tutors who do so much for our community.

For more than four decades, Sue Peters has been an integral part of the musical life of Loreto Marryatville, inspiring hundreds of Loreto scholars through her outstanding musicianship, expertise and unwavering dedication to music education.

Sue actually began her teaching career here at Loreto in 1982 while completing her postgraduate degree in Performance at the University of Adelaide. What was the first chapter of a promising career has now grown to become an extraordinary legacy of service to the College. Throughout her time at Loreto, Sue has nurtured the musical development of countless young people, fostering not only technical excellence at the piano but also a lifelong appreciation of music and the arts.

Highly respected by colleagues, students and families alike, Sue's passion for teaching, generosity of spirit and commitment to excellence have enriched the lives of thousands within the Loreto community. Many past students will remember her with great affection, recognising the confidence, discipline and joy that her teaching inspired.

Sue's contribution has paralleled the remarkable growth of the College's Music Department, and her influence is woven into its enduring culture of excellence. As Loreto continues to celebrate and invest in the Performing Arts, Sue's legacy stands as a testament to the enduring influence that a gifted educator can have on generations of students, families and the wider school community. We are immensely grateful for Sue's dedication to her students and her enduring contribution to our community, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate her invaluable work at Loreto.

Paula Little

Director of Performing Arts