Performing Arts Showcase

The annual Girton Performing Arts Showcase Evening occurred last Thursday 22 August in the Black Box Theatre. The audience witnessed performance works presented by a selection of our talented Drama, Dance, Media and Theatre Studies students this year. The program included three VCE Drama Solo Performances by Lucy Kitching(10 Aherne), Stirling Bellingham (10 Jones) and Maggie Ryan (11 Frew), followed by a presentation of a VCE Media film by Kate Douglass (12 Frew). A small selection of the Year8 production cast performed a sneak preview of ‘The Bombie Samba’ featuring Ronelle Masiboy (8 Jones) and Ensemble Dancers Emily Anderson (8 Riley), Leilani Babitu (8 Jenkin), Esther Barclay (8 Jones), Ava Griffin (8 Aherne), Sophie Mayes (8 Jones), Arwen MacCallum (8 Jones), Zoe MacGregor (8 Riley), Isabel St Clair (8 Frew), Erlin Thomas (8 Riley) and Lucette Wallace-Smith (8 Millward).

Emma Purcell (12 Jones) and Jacob Ware (11 Aherne) presented graceful physicalisation and technique their own devised choreography pieces in the style contemporary dance. VCE Theatre Studies students explained the Production Process for the Senior School Production of Matilda - The Musical as part of their VCE curriculum outcomes. A selection of songs from our Matilda Musical Theatre production featured the stunning voices and acting skills of Georgia McMillan (11 Riley) who performed the song ‘My House’, as the character of Miss Honey), with Lucy Hall (7 Frew) as Matilda and Jacob Hooke (9 Riley) as Magnus Honey. Jack Smith (11 Riley), performed ‘Telly’ as the character of Mr Wormwood, with Oliver Scott (9 Jenkin) as Michael Wormwood. Lucie Griffin (11 Frew) as Mrs Wormwood and Jacob Ware (11 Aherne) as Rudolpho, performed ‘Loud’ with Georgia McMillan (Miss Honey) and the Salsa Ballroom Dancers: Max Beever (12 Frew), Estella Breen (7 Jenkin), Abe Geyer(9 Jenkin), Ella Townsend (9 Jones), Jonte Breen (9 Jenkin), Lily Harvey (8 Aherne), Oliver Davison (9 Riley) and Greta Scuderi (7 Riley).

The evening included the awards for Performer of the Year, kindly sponsored by the Old Girtonians' Association. The Performer of the Year Award and Performer of the Year Runner Up is awarded by the Performing Arts Department, to students who have demonstrated outstanding performance skills, contribution and leadership in the performing arts over the Year.

The Performing Arts Distinction Award is also awarded by the Performing Arts Department to a student who has consistently demonstrated a significant contribution within the Performing Arts over the year.

Finally, the People’s Choice Award is awarded to a student as voted by the audience on the evening.

We are delighted to congratulate the most worthy winners of these awards for 2019 and congratulate the fine examples of exceptional performance delivered by all of the students who were invited to perform at the Showcase.

Particular thanks must go to the Old Girtonians' Association for assisting with the sponsorship and the invaluable help and support from the Friends of the Performing Arts. Thank you also to all of the staff and students who contributed to another successful evening. We could not celebrate these students without you. To John McMillan and the technical crew for their time and professional work in lighting and sound production. Miss Shari Williams, Ms Kristi Mitchell and Mr Mark Beever for their promotional work, support and generosity. To Ms Cheryl Long for her generosity and expertise with piano accompaniment.

To the Performing Arts teachers: Ms Linda Arnell (Dance), Ms Jo Grech (Drama/Theatre Studies) and Ms Jacinta Jackson (Drama/Media) for their generous collaboration, dedication and inspiration they provide to challenge and extend the students’ skills. Finally, thank you to the Headmaster Mr Matthew Maruff and Deputy Head, Mrs Emma O’Reilly, family, friends, special guests, staff and students for supporting Performing Arts at Girton Grammar.