Drama X
2020 saw the return of our Drama X Ensemble and our partnership with La Boite Theatre company through the involvement in their LB Riot program, Cause a Theatrical Riot. The beauty of this program and partnership for the ensemble is that it puts a spotlight on key 21st century skills, student agency, and students as co-creators. The program invites young artists and their teachers to engage with new work specifically created for them, collaborate with industry artists, learn new skills, respond to live theatre, re-imagine, and create new work.
For this year’s program, playwright Steve Pirie jumped on board and developed a new and exciting magical realism work that jumped straight into the school quadrangle to pull apart classroom politics, safety, and a world where students must figure it out on their own. 3 O’Clock, Flagpole is about how to survive school when everyone and everything seems to be turning against you. How do you find your allies and how do you stand up for yourself when even your own mum doesn’t understand what’s going on? Underneath the schoolyard setting is a deeper conversation about victim blaming and how we treat young women in Australia today.
The 2020 Drama X Ensemble this year included: Michaela Aitcheson, Anna De Bellis, Therese De Bellis, Bridie Davissen, Charlotte Dodd, Hannah Lowe, Tyler Mitchell, Ella Patchett, Hannah Schaper, Emily Stitt, Schylar van Fleet, and Bridget Waterson.
The ensemble this year was a dynamic, witty, passionate, and dedicated group of young students from Years 8 to 12 and, even with the pandemic lockdown being in the way, the time we did have together, creating, collaborating, breaking down barriers, and exploring possibilities, was fantastic. Every Tuesday afternoon saw the group come together with an incredible amount of creative energy and determination to develop their skills in theatre beyond the curriculum, find their voice, grow in confidence, and explore themes and issues relevant to their world.
Last Thursday evening the ensemble, while unable to share their work with family and friends as an audience, were able to work with Andrew Johnson to film their interpretation and performance of Pirie’s script, 3 O’Clock, Flagpole. The evening provided the students with an amazing and authentic experience of the process around creating a screen performance, the beauty of "cut, take 2”, and coming together to create something fantastic.
The evening also included celebrating the amazing work they have done as an ensemble this year, with a shared dinner and awards. Congratulations to the following students on their awards:
Leadership in Drama Excellence: Emily Stitt
Excellence in Performance: Ella Patchett
Director’s Most Improved: Charlotte Dodd
Drama Captain’s Award: Hannah Lowe and Rose Williams
(Drama Club and Theatresports)
The entire ensemble is awesome, and it has been an absolute joy to work with them this year and see the growth in all of them, not only as artists, but within themselves. Congratulations to all our dramatists this year and a particular shout out to our beautiful seniors in the ensemble, Anna De Bellis, Therese De Bellis and Emily Stitt for their leadership and contribution to the ensemble and all things drama. We will miss you next year but know will go on to do great things - “Oh the places you will go”.
I am really looking forward to seeing what 2021 brings for Drama X.
Elise Cohen, Teacher
Drama for me is one of the things that makes me look forward to coming to school each day. Whether it's analysing a performance in class, doubling over with laughter as we make hilarious improvisations in games, or staring in awe at my fellow actors in the auditioned Drama X after school, I love it all. Through drama I've learnt skills that I'm going to carry with me for the rest of my life, as well as memories that I will cherish just as much.”
Tyler Mitchell, Year 10
Drama for me is where I can fit in with people who are like me and not feel judged. The people in Drama X have really helped with my personal growth and the friends I've made have really taught me a lot. My involvement in drama has taught me many things and I am so lucky to have found a place where people are almost as weird as me!
Schylar van Fleet, Year 9
I have absolutely loved being part of this year's Drama X ensemble; it has been an excellent creative outlet for me where I can meet new people and develop skills at the same time. The script we have been working on this year in Drama X has been so much fun, as we explored a new genre of theatre and how we could use different techniques to create an engaging performance. For me drama allows me the freedom to be me and express emotions in many different ways whilst telling a story, which I love.
Hannah Lowe, Year 10
Drama X is differently eXcellent. For my first year being apart of a theatre program that allows me to get out of my comfort zone is great. Not only that, but the number of new people across all year levels that I get to know more and more every afternoon is even better. Plus not only that but the script for the play is just hilarious. Drama X is differently one experience this year that I will never forget.”
Charlotte Dodd, Year 10
Drama for me is a place where I can be someone else. In Drama X I feel as if I am part of a community, where I can express myself in a way sometimes others don't understand. Whether we are working on scenes or progressing on the development of characters, we all come together as one. In Drama X i can be creative as well as being able to have a laugh and relax. Drama has taught me a lot, like getting to know who I am and how I can be confident!
Bridget Waterson, Year 9
