English and Literature

In many of the English classes at Nossal, we study playscripts or stories that have an on-stage adaptation, like Treasure Island in Year 9 or Pride and Prejudice in Literature 1/2. I have personally seen several live theatre performances since coming to Nossal, especially in Theatre Studies, and watching an adaptation of a text on stage can provide plenty of inspiration for a student's analysis. 

Viewing a theatrical interpretation or reimagining of a story helps students to consider how central messages of the original text are conveyed by the director's choices and the performers, which can improve their overall ability to understand and analyse authorial agenda in their English assessments.

Aside from the enjoyment students can get from appreciating a performance, it can also be helpful to understand the dramatic tension of the original text from the perspective of a live audience member. Ultimately, seeing an adaptation - or even a creative reimagining - is extremely beneficial to a student's understanding of the text, because it encourages them to see the text from a new perspective and gives them more opportunities to come to their own conclusions about the text by supporting their understanding of another person's interpretation of the text.

If you are studying English or Literature at Nossal, I strongly suggest that you consider watching a performance because it may help refine your comprehension of and appreciation for the text.

School production Twelfth Night Twelfth Night | Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is on in Feb.  (rock musical)

Yr 9 English  - Treasure Island: Treasure Island | Melbourne Shakespeare Company (a 60 minute child friendly play)

Yr 10 World Classics - Medea: Medea | Palace Opera & Ballet - Cinema Programme (an opera)

Yr 11 Literature - Pride and Prejudice: Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) - What's On Melbourne (a comedy)

Yr 12 Literature - Cyrano: Cyrano | Melbourne Theatre Company (gender bending musical)

Yr 11 English - Macbeth:  https://www.stagewhispers.com.au/news/bell-shakespeare-announces-cast-mackenzie. (A dark, camp and satirical reimagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth)

By Aidan Sherry