VCE SEASON OF EXCELLENCE 2018

It is no secret that our theatre students are some of the hardest working, most dedicated students in the school (although, I may hold a slight bias), but last years VCE class was one of the highest achieving groups that we have seen at FCC.

Following some excellent results in VCE Theatre Studies during the 2017 exam season, three students, Reuben Cumming, Darcy Smith and Eliza Lucid, were asked to apply to be a part of the VCAA 2018 Season of Excellence. Only students who receive an A+ in the Stagecraft exam are asked to apply or audition, so these students are among the very best in Victoria.

There are two events in the Season of Excellence which Theatre Studies students can be a part of; Top Class, a live performance showcase and Top Design, an exhibition of design works.

For the Top Class showcase, Darcy and Eliza were invited to audition. The audition stage is by invite only, so it was a huge honour for these students and our school to even be invited and is a testament to their hard work and incredible results. Only 8-10 students are selected from 40+ of the highest achieving students in the state, so it is quite difficult to be selected for the final performance.

Darcy and Eliza auditioned at the VCAA offices in Coburg at the beginning of February and by all reports were incredibly cool, calm and collected, representing FCC honorably in a field ordinarily dominated by private school students.

A huge congratulations to Darcy Smith who was selected to perform at Arts Centre Melbourne in March and commiserations to Eliza who unfortunately missed out.

Inclusion into the Top Design exhibition is also by invitation only, but students are also recommended by VCAA assessors. Unlike Top Class, students are not required to audition, as only a very small amount of students are asked to participate.

We are very proud to announce that our 2017 graduate Reuben Cumming will be an exhibitor for Theatre Studies: Design in the 2018 Top Designs VCE Season of Excellence. Reuben was invited by the VCAA to exhibit following an outstanding result in his Theatre Studies Design Monologue during the 2017 exam season. It is the first year that the subject of Theatre Studies has been included in the Top Design Exhibition and Reuben is one of only 5 Theatre Studies students who was selected to exhibit.

To have one student involved in the Season of Excellence is a huge honour, but to have three students invited has left me stunned and completely overwhelmed with pride. We are so proud of the professionalism and dedication that has developed over the past few years in our Drama and Theatre students and these students are proof of this.

Emily Unt Wan - VCE Theatre Studies teacher

The VCE Season of Excellence, managed by Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, comprises twelve concerts (Top Class and Top Acts), two exhibitions, (Top Arts and Top Designs) and eighteen screenings of short films (Top Screen). All work is produced by outstanding VCE students who completed technology, design, visual or performing arts studies in 2017. Events are presented in Melbourne’s major cultural venues, and a number of associated education programs are offered in conjunction with Season events.

Top Designs: Saturday 18 March – Sunday 16 July 2017 at the Melbourne Museum, Carlton.

Bookings for Top Designs can be made through the Melbourne Museum.

Top Class Theatre Studies: Monday 19th March at The Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne.

Please note: Darcy will be performing in the 2pm performance only.

Bookings for Top Class can be made through Arts Centre Melbourne.