Drama and Theatre
This week continues to see the Drama and Theatre department busy and offering a myriad of different activities and opportunities for our Student body.
On the evening of Friday 14 June, the Year 12 HSC Drama class presented their Individual Performance and Projects Trial, to a house so packed that many had to stand for the duration – it was well worth it. The seven performances ranged from humorous to tragic, modern to classic, with beautiful nuanced moments, cohesion and blocking, whilst the Costume Design for The Visit, was well executed and evocative. The marks received will be the students’ internal marks for their Individual Performances. Students will continue to work on these using the feedback given and present again in August for their actual HSC. Congratulations to all the students involved. Together you delivered a wonderful night of theatre. I would like to thank and acknowledge the work of everyone involved, especially their dedicated and hard working HSC Drama teacher Ms Marita Jansons.
Year 11 IB Students have been doing a series of workshops for their study of a World Theatre Traditions. On Tuesday they were treated to an absolutely terrific workshop with the wonderful Redlander, Tiffany Wong, currently assistant director on Bell Shakespeare’s King Lear, and learner in the art of Jing Ju, Peking Opera. Our two hour workshop, of course, was only a taster of what conventions students could look at through the lens of some of the more traditional stock characters and traditional performance material. We explored the old man character, Xuezi, applying the traits to original source material – an excerpt from The Orphan of Zhao – along with some work as a hero and some hand gesture work such as the lotus flower. It was a brilliant, albeit brief peek into the world of Jing Ju and we are very grateful for Tiffany’s guidance and tutelage.
&Juliet – Theatre Excursion
On Wednesday 19 June, the Year 8 Drama Cohort headed to the Sydney Lyric Theatre for the musically brilliant and hilarious & Juliet, asking the question: what if Romeo’s ending was Juliet’s beginning? The musical flips the script on Shakespeare in a hilarious and poignant story of self-discovery and second chances.
The students really seemed to enjoy it, – it was ladened with recognisable pop songs from Katy Perry, Britney Spears, The Backstreet Boys, Ariana Grande, Pink, Justin Timberlake, (et al) sung with lyrics adjusted accordingly to amp up the humour.
Ms Kathryn Smith
Acting Subject Coordinator Drama & Theatre
Student Reflections:
Wednesday this week, Year 8 Drama went to the Sydney Lyric Theatre to watch the musical & Juliet. The modern take on the classic Shakespeare play was one of the most fun, colourful and upbeat musicals I have ever seen. The songs chosen for the performance were not original, but I thought they were always perfect for the scene they were in. One of my favourite parts of the excursion was the Q&A we participated in at the end of the day. It was super interesting to hear how some of the cast started acting, and the process of how the musical was rehearsed. Overall, I really enjoyed this opportunity!
Clemence Leroux
Year 8 Drama Student
On Wednesday, the Year 8 Drama cohort were very lucky to go on an excursion to see the musical & Juliet at The Lyric Theatre. This show is unlike any musical performance I have ever seen. Being a jukebox musical, & Juliet uses well-known songs and puts them into a different context. I think that this type of musical really resonates with an audience because all the songs are well-known, encouraging everyone to sing along. In terms of the plot, & Juliet reimagines the story of Juliet from Shakespeare’s classic play Romeo and Juliet. Instead of following the original tragic ending, the musical explores what would happen if Juliet chose to live after Romeo’s death. Juliet goes on a journey of self-discovery, love, and empowerment, challenging traditional gender roles and expectations along the way. The creative use of pop songs, integrated into the storyline, adds an engaging and modern twist to this timeless tale. The plot combined with the songs were meaningful yet light at the same time, exploring themes of gender and identity. A few of the cast members were non-binary, and it was interesting to hear their perspective. They mentioned that, unlike any other musical, they felt a strong sense of connection with their characters. This is because many musicals hitting the worldwide stage are often rigid in their portrayal of gender diversity.
I felt that this musical is the best I have ever seen for several reasons. The lighting was perfectly balanced, and the sound design was impeccable, ensuring the music was never too loud to overshadow the singers. The set changes were some of the slickest and quietest I had ever seen, seamlessly enhancing the performance. The storyline conveys a powerful message: finding true love isn’t the ultimate goal, and a happy ending isn’t always necessary for fulfillment, with this realisation unfolding gradually throughout the story. After hearing insights from some of the cast members, the show took on an even deeper meaning for the audience to go away and reflect on. Overall, & Juliet was impactful because it broke traditional moulds and presented a contemporary take on love and identity.
Mackenzie Willis
Year 8 Drama Student
