Drama

Year 9 

This term students have been working on their theatrical understanding within their Playbuilding unit. They have worked collaboratively in order to create a script from scratch, and used their understanding of theatre conventions in order to build an engaging and original performance piece. Working together, students built their scenes and developed their ideas around the stimulus of ‘Time,’ demonstrating both creativity and teamwork. Students performed these pieces later in Term 3, showcasing the development of their hard work. 

Year 9 are now focusing on enhancing their vocal skills, learning how to project their voices safely and effectively for an audience. This allows students to grow as a performer onstage and refine their performance skills before next term. 

Year 10 

Throughout this term, students have focused on the unit of ‘Play Production,’ immersing themselves in the craft of theatre and the role of production elements in enhancing dramatic works. Students began with an exploration of ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ by Tom Wright, which provided a historical perspective on Australian Drama and demonstrated how plays can reflect cultural contexts and messages through their elements of production. 

Building on this foundation, students then shifted their focus to public apologies, analysing the repetition of ideas in John Donnelly’s ‘A Series of Public Apologies’. This allowed them to explore the thematic significance and dramatic effects of repeated motifs in contemporary theatre. 

Now, students are concentrating on assembling their own performance of ‘Gate 38’, by David Megarrity, a task that involves looking at the play’s common themes, ideas, and images and how we can use production elements to effectively support and enhance the play’s messages. They will work hard to perform this performance piece as a part of their assignment towards the end of this term. 

Year 11

Throughout the Term, Year 11 Drama students focused on their third and final Preliminary Drama unit, concentrating on the Elements of Production within Theatre. This unit introduced students to various aspects of Theatre production, emphasising how these elements can be used to craft atmosphere and convey meaning in design. Students were then given the responsibility to manage their own production elements as they began working on the play ‘Heavy Weather’ by Lizzie Nunnery. This involved a collaborative effort to piece together their individual production areas into a unified and cohesive play.

As the Term progressed, students worked collaboratively to ensure that each element contributed to an engaging performance for the stage. With the final weeks approaching, their focus shifted to perfecting their writing skills in preparation for their preliminary exams. The dedication and hard work displayed throughout the term has been highly commendable, and all students are very excited to begin the HSC next Term. 

Year 12 

We have been fortunate enough to see all our Year 12 Drama students grow into amazing performers, and are very proud of all their achievements throughout the year. The HSC Drama performance night was held mid-way through Term 3, which was a remarkable showcase of the dedication and creativity, featuring their Individual and Group Project major works. It was a wonderful evening spent with friends and family, as the Year 12 performers took to the stage to present their carefully crafted performance pieces. 

This night not only celebrated their achievements but also served as a crucial rehearsal for the final HSC performance, where they would present their works once more for HSC markers as part of their final HSC assessment. In addition to their performances, students have been diligently working on their writing skills in preparation for the HSC Drama exam, reflecting their commitment and hard work throughout the year. Well done Year 12!

‘Freeroam Theatre’ Workshop

Years 9, 10, and 11 Drama students were thrilled to have local Wagga Wagga Theatre company ‘Freeroam Theatre’ visit our school in Term 3 for a Drama workshop. This opportunity truly extended their theatrical understanding and allowed students to experience the art of playbuilding, exploring the creative process of constructing original performances from scratch. Additionally, the workshop introduced them to the exciting world of improvisation, giving them valuable skills and confidence in spontaneous performance. Students actively participated in a range of activities that involved moving around the space and experimenting ideas in collaboration with one another. Everyone had such a wonderful experience, and we would like to extend a big thankyou to Freeroam Theatre for coming to the College.