Drama and Theatre
Musical
It’s been a wonderful start to the year with all the students making excellent progress in rehearsals for the Redlands Musical, Grease. While there are students in new roles, it’s already clear that the hard work they put in last year will really pay off.
As you know the past 12 months have been challenging for the Arts industry and while theatres and other performance venues are now open, there are still restrictions in place for audiences. More importantly, there are restrictions for performers and hirers such as schools. These restrictions limit our ability to present the Musical in the traditional way, for instance, by capping both the number of singers on-stage at one time and the total number of students able to be involved.
This year we will, instead, stage the Musical as a film, for online streaming access by the school community. The film will be ticketed with a limited number of showing dates, to be confirmed. While the experience may be a little different for ensemble members and the wider community, staging the Musical as a film has significant benefits in terms of the artistic viability of the show. It also absolutely guarantees we can go ahead should the COVID situation lead to further lockdowns. We expect the process of being involved in professional film recordings will be a wonderful experience for students, and allows us to include the band, hair and make-up, and production teams in supporting the cast.
Acting and musical numbers will be recorded and filmed over the coming weeks with the show being edited together afterward and a release date planned for Term 2.
Thank you for your understanding as we navigate these challenging times. We look forward to sharing with you the exciting film version of Grease as we extend our students’ capacity in Theatre to the Film medium.
Students can check rehearsal and filming schedules on iLearn, on the Theatre and Drama notice board and Redlands Pulse.
Junior School Theatresports
Any student wishing to participate in Theatresports in the Junior School is welcome to join us at lunch on Tuesday. Meet at the flagpole. Workshops are free and open to all students from Yrs 3 to 6.
Secondary School Theatresports
Redlands Theatresports Workshops are free and open to all students from Yrs 7 to 12. Classes take place on Tuesday lunchtimes in the Drama Studio. Redlands will be entering a Senior and Intermediate team in Impro Australia’s 2021 Theatresports Schools Competition. The regional TSC takes place in Term 2 with heats running from early May. Winning schools will progress to take part in the qualifying finals in June and the top teams in each division will go into a Grand Final at the Enmore Theatre at the end of June.
Shakespeare on Screen
This year the Redlands Shakespeare Festival is focussing on film acting techniques. You can submit a film of your performance and be judged by the esteemed Darren Gilshenan (The Moodys, Here Come the Habibs!, Harrow). Register your interest in the Shakespeare Festival here by Friday 19 February and then you will be invited to join the dedicated iLearn page.
Senior Acting Ensemble
Interested in becoming part of the Redlands Drama Senior Acting Ensemble? Students who would like to develop their acting skills and be part of an ensemble that creates new works, as well as working towards Theatre Festivals are invited to come on Monday lunchtime to the Drama Studio. See Mrs Daley for details.
Mrs Joy Daley
Coordinator of Theatre and Drama
drama@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9860