House Performing Arts

What an absolutely incredible day! The stage was alive with energy, creativity, and immense house pride for the annual House Performing Arts (HPA) Carnival. This year, the school community was treated to four completely student-led productions that set a magnificent new standard for excellence, proving once again why this event holds such a special place in our school calendar.

While other House Carnivals celebrate individual athletic feats, HPA stands completely alone as the only carnival where the entire house gets to shine and work together as one cohesive unit. From Year 7 to Year 12, every single student was on stage participating in the monumental whole-house dance. Seeing hundreds of students moving in unison, supporting one another, and sharing the stage was a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we pull in the same direction.

The depth of talent on display was staggering. Beyond the inclusive mass dances, audiences were treated to stunning specialist dance numbers, beautiful melodies from the chamber choirs, and rich live accompaniment from the student orchestras. Behind the scenes, the production value was equally professional. Students managed the complex technical components, seamlessly handling microphones, shifting backdrops, cueing sound effects, and designing dynamic lighting. Furthermore, the entire backstage operation was managed by students who called the show with absolute precision.

FOUR MAGICAL PRODUCTIONS, ONE UNFORGETTABLE DAY

This year’s Disney and fairytale themes brought a wave of nostalgia and incredible storytelling to the stage. The judges noted that they found it incredibly hard to differentiate between the four amazing shows, as each house brought an elite level of performance to the auditorium.

• Bruce House ultimately took home the championship trophy with their dazzling, high-energy performance of The Little Mermaid.

• Mather House was awarded the coveted 'Bealos Point' for their outstanding participation and incredible house-wide engagement in their magical production of Frozen.

• Rayner House put on a wonderful, visually stunning production of Tangled that captivated the entire audience.

• Warrell House delivered a knockout version of Peter Pan that was packed with charisma and fantastic character energy.

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

The sense of community and connection across the year levels was palpable throughout the entire five-week process. Here is what some of our students had to say about their experience:

It is so good to collaborate with people from various parts of the school and learn more about them while doing something together that we all love! 

- Year 9 Student

It helped me move out of my comfort zone and feel more confident on stage. Also, all the performances were very entertaining and fun. 

- Year 7 Student

The sheer joy and excitement of the day resonated across all four houses, highlighting the vibrant house spirit that defines our school culture:

The whole day was so fun and I'm sad it's over... it brought [us] all together in the end. 

- Year 7 Student

We all had a great time and that’s all that matters! 

- Year 10 Student

A TRIUMPH OF LEADERSHIP

Putting together a full-scale performance in just five weeks is an extraordinary feat, and special recognition must go to our Year 12 leaders. They truly rose to the challenge of managing massive groups, tight deadlines, and complex logistics. In doing so, they learned a great deal about the responsibilities of project management and team dynamics. Most importantly, they emerged from the pressure of the carnival as better, stronger, and kinder leaders, guiding their younger peers with patience and encouragement.

Congratulations to everyone involved! Entirely student-run, brilliantly executed, and deeply inclusive. Everyone should be incredibly proud of what was achieved this year!

Ms Danielle Growse

Head of Drama and Senior Productions