Drama

Year 9 Drama

On the 11th of June, twenty one Year Nine Drama students took part in the annual ‘Drama Victoria Theatre Festival’ at Billanook College. The festival, which is in its 5th year, is open to Year Nine and Ten students across the state, and is designed as a forum to discuss and engage in drama and performance in a professional setting. The students begun their journey by working with a number of other schools at Deakin University at the  beginning  of  the  term. The students then worked diligently for seven weeks to devise and create an original theatre piece inspired by Robyne Latham’s artwork ‘Remembering  empty Coolamans’. http://www.robynelatham.com/ Up against some tough competition - we were the only state school involved in this part of Melbourne - the students piece entitled ‘Lost

Cause’ focused on a modern investigation of the legacy of the ‘White Australia Policy’ and how removing influential mentors and parental figures can lead to a negative outcome.

The students’ final piece was ultimately the most complex and genuinely funny of the cluster. As the largest group competing we managed to balance the inclusion of a spectrum of ideas as well as providing a clear message firmly centred on the stimulus. An excellent outcome for a talented and vibrant group of students!

Year 10 Drama

NARRATOR . What we are going to do for you right now is return these fairy tales to their original glory. We have assembled the greatest troupe of actors the world has ever seen and we – (Actor emerges, halfway in costume, scratching himself)

ACTOR. I thought there was supposed to be catering back here?

NARRATOR. There is like a beef thing somewhere ACTOR. Where?

NARRATOR. I don’t know, in the back somewhere ACTOR. Is there anything to drink?

NARRATOR. No

On the 13th of June the Year 10 Drama class channelled their favourite Monty Python cast member to present the mad capped antics of Don Zolidis’s ‘The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon’. The play, chosen by the students, was unique opportunity to celebrate both the beginning and end of an exciting theatrical journey.

After honing their skills through the junior and middle school program the performance was possibly the last time some students will choose to take to the stage. While for other students it is a platform for them to take the next step into the sophisticated and rewarding world of VCE Theatre Studies. No matter what path the students are about to take, the night represented a significant achievement.

A One Act play is a big jump from the 15 minute devised performance that they completed in Year Nine. Student took a hands-on approach, involving themselves on every facet of the production;  in fact on the night no teachers were present backstage! The students organised and operated the theatre tech, organised and painted sets, designed costumes and wrote extra material, offering up a plethora of creative ideas that made their way to the stage and foyer.

The performance itself was spectacular, reflecting the students’ talent and hard work.

Congratulations to all involved!

Stuart Crawford  -  Drama Teacher