Romeo & Juliet Excursion

"On August 29, Term 3, the Year 10 students attended a performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Malthouse Theatre. As part of their English curriculum, the students are currently studying Shakespeare's iconic play, exploring his thematic teachings, dramatic techniques, and the enduring values within one of the world’s greatest love stories. The performance featured a cast of two actors and one actress, each of whom portrayed at least two characters, demonstrating the versatility required in bringing Shakespeare's work to life.

Throughout the performance, our Year 10 students remained engaged, and were encouraged to actively participate by laughing, crying, applauding, and sharing in the emotional experience. Following the play, the cast led a discussion with the students, emphasizing the significance of tone and acting in shaping audience perception. This interaction helped students deepen their understanding of how subtle shifts in performance can enhance the emotional impact of a scene.

Having already studied various adaptations of Romeo and Juliet in class, and read the original play, the students found this live performance to be a highly valuable learning experience. It provided a practical and immersive opportunity to connect with the emotions Shakespeare sought to evoke. Additionally, students were encouraged to create their own adaptations in class, which helped them develop a clearer and more concise understanding of the text, including the cultural values and societal norms embedded within it. The culmination of these activities was an analytical text response essay, in which students demonstrated their ability to critically engage with Shakespeare's work and its themes.”

Here are some responses from students-

Global Learning Leader / Language Domain Leader / International Student Admin / Yearbook Coordinator

Blagojche's (Speech about the event at assembly)

"I want to share with you all a little about our recent excursion to the city to watch a performance of Romeo and Juliet. I was surprised when we arrived at the theatre – it was much smaller than I had expected. But as the actors took the stage, I realised it did not matter. The performance was astounding, bringing new life to a story many of us know so well.

What struck me the most was that only three actors were playing the roles of eleven different characters. At first, I wondered how they could pull it off, but they managed to transform themselves with every change of costume, voice, and expression. They were so immersed in their roles that I quickly forgot I was watching actors on a stage; I truly felt like I was witnessing Romeo and Juliet themselves, living their intense, tragic story right in front of me.

What I loved most was the actors’ approach to the text. The actors told us that what we had just witnessed was only their interpretation of Shakespeare’s text. They then asked us how we saw the story. Some of us found it "stupid," "boring," or even "crazy." And instead of dismissing these opinions, the actors embraced them. They adjusted their performances based on our interpretations, reshaping scenes on the spot. It was an incredible experience to see how fluid and adaptable theatre can be, and how the meaning of a story can change depending on who is telling it — or watching it. This idea resonated with me. It was a powerful reminder that literature and art are alive; they change and adapt based on who is experiencing them and how they are understood.

As a student, this experience taught me that there isn’t always one ‘right’ way to understand a piece of literature. We are encouraged to bring our perspectives and emotions into what we read, which can lead to new and unique interpretations. It also showed me the importance of being open-minded and appreciating different viewpoints. The play demonstrated that even a well-known story like Romeo and Juliet can offer something fresh and surprising if we look at it from a new angle.

Overall, the excursion was an incredible experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity to see Shakespeare’s work come to life in such a dynamic and engaging way.

Thank you."

Remy's (Speech about the Romeo and Juliet at assembly) 

"Good morning, staff and students, my name is Remy, and I am here to talk to you about the Year 10 Romeo and Juliet excursion. During this term the year 10’s have been reading the Shakespearean Romeo and Juliet play and watched multiple movie adaptations.

Due to this we were lucky enough to view a live performance of the play, thanks to the organisation and collaboration of our English teachers. On Thursday the 29th of August the Year 10 cohort had the opportunity to view a Romeo and Juliet stage performance at the Malthouse theatre.

The theatre showcased a Romeo and Juliet performance based off of the written Shakespeare play, which spanned over two hours. The play was performed by three experienced actors who rotated through the many character roles throughout the production. I personally found it so impressive that they could memorise all of their lines and speak the Shakespearean language with such ease all while acting out a scene effortlessly. It was incredible to view the play in live and action and watch the scenes that Shakespeare had written so intricately.

After the initial performance of the play, the actors led us through a demonstration of alternative meanings and perceptions that the performance could hold. They allowed us some time to think and collaboratively discuss whether the play is truly based on love or hate. They further put our opinions into action and acted out scenes with a change in tone and expression. This showed many of us that the play can have such a different meaning with the slightest of change.

I believe that the play was very beneficial in understanding the play, as it has been difficult to decipher while reading it. Viewing the play has helped me in deepening my own understanding of the written play and also shown me that the play can be interpreted in so many different ways, with no wrong or right meaning. Overall, this play was an incredible and favourable experience. 

Thank you"