Performing Arts 

Mamma Mia! (School Production)

Rehearsals for Mamma Mia! have been full of energy, laughter, and, of course, plenty of ABBA hits! Throughout Term 1, our talented cast have been working hard each week to bring this beloved musical to life, and their enthusiasm is contagious.

We asked some of our cast members a few fun questions about their experience so far:

💭 If you could swap roles with any other character for one night, who would it be and why?

• Remus: "Possibly Ryan (who plays Sky) because Lay All Your Love on Me is a banger!"
• Charlotte: "With Donna – she has all my favourite songs."
• Jaimi: "Ali or Lisa because they are such fun characters!"

🎶 Mamma Mia! is full of catchy ABBA songs—if you had to pick one to describe your personality, which would it be and why?

• Remus: "Dancing Queen! Because I am turning 17 this year!"
• Charlotte: "Winner Takes it All – it is such a raw and emotional song."
• Jaimi: "Slipping Through My Fingers – it was my first favourite number from Mamma Mia!"

🎭 How would you describe the first term of rehearsals?

• Jaimi: "Fun! We are both learning and forgetting lots!"
• Charlotte P: "I love getting to hang out with my friends after school!"
• Skylah: "It was a bit hectic to start with being my first musical but I've enjoyed the process and I've made so many new friends."

With such an enthusiastic cast and a show packed with iconic songs, Mamma Mia! is shaping up to be an unforgettable production. Stay tuned for more updates as we head into Term 2!

A Midsummer Night's Dream Incursion

Year 7 Drama Incursion with the Australian Shakespeare Company

Our Year 7 Drama students had an exciting opportunity to attend a special incursion presented by the Australian Shakespeare Company. The performance brought Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to life with humour, music, and audience participation—giving our students a first hand look at the magic of live theatre.

Here’s what some of our Year 7 students had to say about the performance:

🎭 "They really got into their character with their facial expressions!"

🎶 "I loved the singing and the modernised music!"

😂 "I liked the storyline with the fairies and the mechanicals."

🎭 "I liked the costumes—they really suited the characters!"

🌟 "I enjoyed the audience participation—I got to act three times!"

We can’t wait to see them bring their own performances of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' to life next term!

UNITED Dance Excursion

This term, Ms Jemmeson's Year 9 Dance students had the exciting opportunity to attend Chunky Move’s groundbreaking production U>N>I>T>E>D at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, as part of the Asia TOPA festival.

Students were especially inspired by the performers’ striking motocross-inspired exoskeleton costumes, which transformed them into post-human, tech-adorned mythological beings. The performance featured a powerful international collaboration between Gabber Modus Operandi, Bali’s streetwear label Future Loundry, and animatronic experts Creature Technology Co.

It was a truly otherworldly experience that challenged and expanded our students' understanding of what contemporary dance can be. A huge thank you to all involved for making this unforgettable excursion possible!

Instrumental Music

GIJ – 2025!

It’s been a huge end to term 1 for our instrumental music students! Our senior stage band and senior choir are in overdrive as our students prepare for the huge trip to South Australia to compete in the Generations in Jazz Festival in Mount Gambier. This will be the first interstate trip our musicians at Cranbourne East SC have embarked on and we wish them the absolute best!

Sing Fest 25’

A highlight in term 2 for me was attending the SEVR Sing-Fest 25’ workshop with over 260 other singers from Government Schools. Our students found it tricky at first but showed excellent perseverance and by the end of the huge day, there were smiles all round. Some of the incredible harmonies put together by these vocalists in such a short time are truly excellent and I’m excited to see our choir perform on the big stage in May.

We’re looking for young vocalists to join our ranks in our Junior Choir which will begin in term 2. If you’re interested in joining Junior Choir, email instrumentalmusic@cesc.vic.edu.au for more information or visit us in RED OFFICE for a chat.

VSSS Mass Choir

In 2025, CESC will be supporting 15 vocal students to participate in the Victorian State School Spectacular Mass Choir. These students will rehearse and perform with over 7,000 other government school students in a televised event hosted at John Cain Arena in September.

For more information or to express interest in this colossal event, email instrumentalmusic@cesc.vic.gov.au. 

Cranbourne Lyons Community Band Festival

As our music program grows, we are quickly building a reputation for a college supportive of the arts among the wider Cranbourne Community. This year, CESC will be hosting the Cranbourne Lyons Community Concert Band Festival in our very own RTH1. This event will be supported through the loan of some incredibly gear from Yamaha Music Australia and will see 4 community ensembles and two college ensembles perform. CESC’s Senior Concert Band will have the opportunity to play alongside musicians from all walks of life and hone their skills on top of the range music equipment. All members of the public are welcome to attend this fantastic event on May 25th at CESC.

Upcoming in Term 2:

• VSSS Mass Dance rehearsals continue
• VSSS Mass Choir rehearsals begin
• Orchestra rehearsals for Mamma Mia! begin
• Contemporary Indigenous Theatre Workshops for select Year 7s - Year 10s
• Generations in Jazz South Australia Camp - 2nd-4th May
• Cranbourne Lyons Concert Band Festival - 25 May