Staff Spotlight
Meet Mrs Natalie Venettacci, a Secondary Drama Teacher who became part of the St Mary’s College teaching team at the beginning of this year.
Welcome to St Mary’s College! What drew you to join the SMC community? I have a lot of friends who are former St Mary's students, and they are all wonderful and kind women. They always speak so positively of their time at St Mary's, so I felt this school was the change I needed.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role? Working with another Drama teacher (Lisa Thomas). I haven't had the opportunity to work alongside another Drama teacher before. It has been wonderful brainstorming ideas together and sharing our love of theatre.
What inspires your teaching, and how does this inform your approach? I'm inspired by working with a practice of gratitude – always appreciating what each student brings to the classroom. The content I teach stems from my time at drama school, and my goal is to ensure students leave with a full actor's toolbelt.
What experience do you bring to the classroom? I am a professionally trained actor and have had the pleasure of working nationally and internationally in theatre. I have been teaching for seven years, and every year I learn something new about this generation of young people and how I can continue to improve my practice for them.
What do you enjoy outside of school? There are many things I enjoy outside of school, but a couple of my favourite things are spending time with my nieces and nephews, going out for dinner with my husband, and having 'crafternoons' with my best friends.
Quick-fire questions:
Right now, I’m listening to, watching and reading…
Watching: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18
Reading: Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health by Daisy Fancourt
Listening: Miss Kaninna, Don West and James Blake are on my rotation at the moment