LHS ONE ACT PLAY TROUPE
✨Festival Success
The Lilydale High School One Act Play Troupe has had an outstanding season, performing not one but two productions across the Dandenong Ranges One Act Play Festival, the Foster One Act Play Festival, and here at school to great acclaim.
The troupe presented two very different shows: The 10 Best/Worst Things About High School, a fast-paced physical comedy, and Ward 17, a heart-wrenching self-devised drama created by the students in collaboration with Mr Jennings. Together, these two works allowed the troupe to showcase their full range as performers – from sharp comedic timing to deeply emotional storytelling.
The troupe included:
- Sienna D’Amico
- Makenzie Holscher
- Charlie Glenn
- Ren Martin Webb
- Hue Martin Webb
- Emma Hade
- Kai Thulke
- Oliver Bai
- York Newell
- Callum Eade
- Evie Nugent (Lighting)
- Ari Cooper (Sound)
At the Dandenong Ranges Festival, the troupe’s efforts were recognised with a number of individual and group awards:
- Callum Eade – No Small Parts / Bird Award for his cameos
- York Newell – recognised for his great range
- Charlie Glenn – for energy and projection
- Emma Hade – for strong characterisation in Ward 17
- Oliver Bain – for physicality and comic timing
- The cast of Ward 17 – for their collaborative process in creating an original drama
They also received nominations in the Youth section for Best Youth Production (Ward 17 and 10 Best/Worst Things About High School).
Against adult companies in the whole festival, the troupe’s work stood out with nominations for:
- Best Original Script – Ward 17
- Best Ensemble – Ward 17
- Best Director – Ward 17 & 10 Best/Worst Things
- Best Production – Ward 17And were awarded:
- Best Drama – Ward 17
At the Foster Festival, the troupe continued their success with:
- Hue Martin Webb receiving the Victorian Drama League Excellence in Acting Award for her portrayal of Samantha in Ward 17
- Best Playwright Award – Ward 17, beating out adult companies for this honour
- Best Youth Production – Ward 17
These results are a testament to the students’ creativity, collaboration, and commitment, as well as the support they have received from their teachers, staff, family and friends across their years at LHS.
Students interested in joining the Lilydale High School One Act Play Troupe in 2026 should keep an eye out in Term 4 for information about how to get involved.
And as for Ward 17… well, let’s just say it might not be the last you see of it. Perhaps the full-length version is still to come…
John Jennings
Director