Whole School Movie Production

Dreams Under the Bigtop

This week marks a very exciting and nervous week for our students as they prepare for our 2021 School Production, Dreams Under the Bigtop. Although it is not being performed live on stage, we know that the students are excited and ready to do something new and never done before… the first movie version of a Production.  

Rehearsals took the form of online learning and I was overjoyed and often brought to tears to see students performing at home with their parents and siblings. What creative imaginations they had when finding props needed to dance with; instead of silks we had blankets, towels and tissues. Instead of weights we had pens, TV remotes, even pets! Parents could be heard whispering off screen the lines needed to be said, encouraging them as they danced in bedrooms, lounge rooms and even outside. It can be confusing learning online, knowing which direction they should be dancing, so I have had to let go of my pedantic need to have everything going towards the right or left. I am just amazed with the persistence they have shown and the smiling faces when they do perform.

In many ways, it is an entire community Production as families have been instrumental in helping coach, teach, rehearse and encourage students to keep going.  The staff have picked up the baton recently and with only 8 full days of everyone back onsite, it has certainly pushed our expertise. We have taken for granted the wonderful connections the students make with one another when onsite, the teamwork and cooperation that are integral to a Production.  It was very clear that students knew their lines and were able to say them with great expression; however, interacting with others onstage and knowing where to stand and how to deliver the lines is tricky to learn in 8 days! Fingers crossed we will get there…

There are so many staff who have been working tirelessly trying to sort costumes and construct props when shops have only just opened. It is fabulous to see how creative and ingenious we can be when pushed. I am so proud of the many hurdles we have faced and how we have overcome them by thinking differently and changing our course of action. Unfortunately government restrictions prevent us from singing and using our beautiful voices so we are encouraging the students to put all their effort into the dance moves and acting.

Could all students have their base costumes at school by Wednesday (at the latest) so that we can finalise other parts to the costume. We will be running a Dress Rehearsal on Thursday and the filming will take place on Friday, so it is really important that all students are at school. 

The order form to purchase a DVD/USB version of the production is included here and all families who order one will also get a printed program as an added incentive. It would be wonderful to support EncorePhotography as a company who were out of work throughout the lockdowns as well as your own children.

Finally if your child is feeling anxious or nervous I always tell the students that this is a good thing. A little bit of nervousness and pressure ensures we will be concentrating on the job at hand and trying our best. Again I have to go back to the lyrics of the finale song which reminds us to ....‘try everything’ and when it gets hard or difficult, “I won’t give up and I won’t give in” because “I wanna try even though I could fail” for it is in making mistakes that we learn the most.  

Performing Arts is more than just acting, dancing and singing. It is the attributes of resilience, team work, cooperation and persistence that make up so much of what I teach. I am beyond proud of my students for displaying this, especially this year. They have trusted me and together we hope to have made some wonderful memories and fun times that will be treasured long after the final cut and edit has been made.

Ms Lou Devoy

Performing Arts Teacher