Performing Arts

2018 Ensemble Music Program!

Moving into the new year, we are beginning the process of establishing the instrumental music program for 2018! Click on the above image to find out more information on the program. If you are interested in getting your child involved in the program, please send Genelle Lentini, Leader of Performing Arts an email! glen@whsc.vic.edu.au

Year 9 Drama - Pop Up Globe Theatre Experience

Students enrolled in Year 9 Drama have had the wonderful opportunity to experience Shakespeare like it was 1614! Arts Centre Melbourne have provided our students with the once in a lifetime opportunity to see one of Shakespeare's hilarious comedies, "Much Ado About Nothing", staged in the magnificent "Pop Up Globe" Theatre right in the heart of Melbourne. Students travelled into the city and spent the morning getting lost in the Melbourne Festival art installation, "House of Mirrors". Followed by lunch by the State Library, a game of giant chess and then back on the tram to experience this cultural phenomenon.

Here are student accounts of the day: 

"The year 9 Drama students were given an opportunity to visit the Mirror Maze and Globe Theatre in the city on Tuesday the 31st of Oct. We visited the Mirror Maze outside Arts Centre which was a really fun, mind boggling and mildly overwhelming experience. We were also given the once in a lifetime opportunity to watch a Shakespeare play in the Globe Theatre replica of his original theatre. The show was the traditional Shakespeare play "Much Ado About Nothing" with a modern twist and Maori influence. We all really loved the show and all got involved throughout the show with the cast and even got photos with a member of the cast in interval! Overall it was a really enjoyable day and an amazing experience!" - Ayesha Sandhu, Year 9 Drama Student

10 Drama - "Suitcase Series" at The Malthouse Theatre

Another opportunity for the students enrolled in Performing Arts, includes the exceptional experience provided by The Malthouse Theatre, "The Suitcase Series". The Year 10 Drama Class received a script called "Turbine" by Australian playwright Dan Giovanni and the instructions to create a 20 minute performance based on the issue of "Climate Change". Having half a term to work on the project, this unique class decided completely to ignore the script provided and instead, create a completely original performance that uses the 5 Stages of grief as means in which to explore and explain the death of Mother Nature. The highly comical performance was presented at the Malthouse Theatre on Friday the 10th of November, to 4 other schools across Victoria and industry professionals. The whole experience was highly rewarding (from an educators point of view!) and I'm sure the students could say the same: 

Here is what the students have to say about the event: 

"Our year 10 Drama class had the chance to be part of the Suitcase Series which takes place at the Malthouse Theatre, which gives students an opportunity to create and act in a 10-20 minute performance about Global Warming. When we first got the script “Turbine” which was written by Dan Giovanni we read it together as a group and decided we wanted to come  up with an original idea to perform at the Malthouse Theatre. We decided to keep the 5 Stages of Grief in the performance because it had a good base to how the story would lay out. Each group did a brainstorm to generate ideas. After the brainstorm the groups started creating short scripts for each different stage of grief. Soon after we put all the ideas together and created one big script, we had a read through and started assigning characters to the people who signed up for the performance. Once that was done we started figuring out how we were going to create a set using only 4 chairs on stage while trying to fit all the costumes and props into one suitcase (this is why it’s called suitcase series). During this process we also had to see what sounds we were going to use and lighting effects to enhance the performance.

On the day of the performance we took a train from Glen Waverley station to get to the Malthouse Theatre. We walked in and had a place assigned for us to put our things. Soon after we started to get into costume and got told what time we were going to perform. It was a little intimidating seeing all the other schools but as soon as all the performances started everything was ok. We then performed and were asked questions about the process of creating the show and meanings behind certain things in the show. Overall the day was an amazing experience for everyone who was involved. I would definitely do it again if I had the chance to." - Nick Chronopoulos, Year 10 Drama Student

"Our interpretation of this script included aliens, Trump, reporters, the worst research centre in the world and Shamwow! The whole performance was devised by our class including the lightning, sound and our script. Performing in front of other schools from around Melbourne, and seeing how they interpreted the script was very fun and interesting. It was a once in a lifetime experience to be a part of this program, and I encourage anyone that can, to get involved." - Issy Jones, Year 10 Drama Student

Genelle Lentini

Performing Arts Leader