Year 10 2026 Presents A CONNECTION OF TWO PLAYS 3 - 5 JUNE 2026 | 7:00PM
Directed by Mia Heath and Harry Bartlett
Written by Tom Stoppard
Directed by Anika Banerjee and Josh Merten
Written by George Kemp
Mission
An Anglican community inspiring every learner every experience every day
Vision
To be a leader in Christian education that is characterised by a global vision that inspires hope
Commitment
Compassion
We acknowledge the Dharug, Darkinjung, Wonnarua and Yolŋu peoples who are the traditional custodians of the land on which Barker College, Darkinjung Barker, Ngarralingayil Barker and Dhupuma Barker stand. We pay respect to the Elders past, present and emerging of the Dharug, Darkinjung, Wonnarua and Yolŋu nations and extend that respect to other Indigenous people within the Barker College community.
Indigenous Australians have a rich history of storytelling, educating their children and sharing law, history, spirituality and morals through stories, song and dance. Inspired by this rich tradition, tonight these students will be sharing their stories. We hope you enjoy.
Welcome
It is with great joy that I welcome you to this evening’s Year 10 play, featuring two highly entertaining short plays - The Real Inspector Hound and Shack.
We are especially honoured to have these works directed by four remarkable alumni, Mia Heath (20) and Harry Bartlett (20), and Anika Banerjee (23) and Josh Merten (20), whose creative leadership has enriched this production immeasurably.
Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound is clever, chaotic, theatrical, and completely unapologetic in its absurdity, delighting audiences with its wit and playful satire of classic detective dramas. Paired with Shack, a work of contrast and character, the evening offers both humour and insight, showcasing the breadth of dramatic storytelling.
Our Year 10 students have embraced this opportunity with passion and dedication, guided by the inspiring leadership of Jennie Bradbury, Acting Head of Drama. They have been supported by a brilliant crew led by Harry Whale, Dugal Parker and the tireless efforts of our Drama technical and teaching staff.
Tonight is a celebration of creativity, courage, and collaboration. We give thanks to God for the giftedness of these young people and their unwavering commitment to our community.
Enjoy the show.
Phillip Heath AM Head of Barker College
Director’s Note: The Real Inspector Hound
Directing at Barker again this year has reminded Harry and I why this department is such a special place to grow up in.
There is something incredibly unique about Barker Drama and the environment it creates for students.
It is one of the few places where young people are encouraged to throw themselves wholeheartedly into something, take risks, fail spectacularly, laugh about it, and then have the people around them lift them back up again. That sense of collaboration, openmindedness, and shared joy is what makes this community so special, and this cast embodied that spirit from the very beginning.
One of the most rewarding parts of this process has been watching the cast genuinely want each other to succeed. Rehearsals became spaces where students encouraged one another, gave thoughtful feedback, and celebrated each other’s progress. There is something incredibly rare about a group of young actors who are not only sharp, instinctive, and endlessly funny, but who actively want to help the people around them become better too. It made the rehearsal room a place full of trust, care, and lots of laughter.
Choosing The Real Inspector Hound felt strangely inevitable. It is clever, chaotic, theatrical, and completely unapologetic in its absurdity. When Tom Stoppard first wrote the play in the late 1960s, British theatre was shifting dramatically. Censorship laws had recently changed, and stages were suddenly filled with deeply political and socially serious work. Stoppard instead chose to write something playful, leaning fully into confusion, parody, theatrical nonsense, and the sheer joy of performance itself.
That instinct resonated with us immediately. While theatre absolutely has the power to confront difficult issues and challenge audiences, there is also value in silliness. In laughter. In a group of students sprinting
onstage trying to hold together a collapsing murder mystery. We wanted to give this cast the opportunity to embrace a style of theatre that prioritises bold choices, spontaneity, precision, and fun. Beneath all the dramatic entrances and complete absurdity, Hound is a play that reminds us theatre does not always need to provide answers to be meaningful.
Productions like this are never created by the people whose names appear on the front page alone. To Dugal Parker, thank you for your creativity, humour, and endless generosity throughout this process. To Harry Whale, thank you for quite literally lighting up this production and for bringing so much atmosphere and life to the world of Hound while leading the crew with such care. To Alistair Machon, thank you for steering this wonderfully chaotic production with such calmness and care. To Macsen Thomas, thank you for stepping into the role of the world’s most committed dead body! To our backstage and technical crew, thank you for all the unseen work that keeps productions alive. And to Libby Wood, thank you for your constant support and care throughout this process. To Pia Midgley and Jennie Bradbury, thank you for your trust, warmth, and encouragement. And to all the Barker Drama teachers, thank you for creating a department built not only on performance, but on generosity, collaboration, and genuine care for one another.
Finally, to our cast: thank you for meeting every strange idea and every piece of theatrical nonsense with humour, and heart. We are unbelievably proud of you.
Enjoy the chaos.
Mia Heath (20) and Harry Bartlett
(20)
Directors
Cast and Roles
The Real Inspector Hound
Miro Roxburgh Moon
Malachi Perry Birdboot
Scarlett King Gorper
Sadie Brown
Mrs Drudge
Joe Foxcroft
Mr Drudge
Logan Sturrock
Simon Bamberger
Charlotte Walker
Felicity Cunningham
Lilly Stahmer
Cynthia Muldoon
Matthew Lander Magnus Muldoon
Aarav Raweri
Inspector Hound
Hugo Bunting Police Officer 1
Finn Cootes Police Officer 2
Macsen Thomas Higgs
Director’s Note: Shack
Being
back at this school as a director feels incredibly special.
A few years ago, we were sitting where many of these students are now – auditioning, rehearsing, learning, growing, and discovering just how transformative theatre can be. To return now and direct for the second time at the very school that helped shape us is something we are deeply grateful to Mr Philip Heath, Ms Pia Midgely, and Ms Jennie Bradbury for.
Something that we discovered in rehearsals about Shack is how much the beautiful, frightening scale of nature plays a part in the narrative. Ernie says, “I couldn’t tell if it made my heart race cause it was so exciting or so beautiful or so scary.” The explorers being trapped in Antarctica mirrors the experience of young people discovering what it is to be a leader, and the bravery it takes to grow up.
We are endlessly proud of this cast for the dedication, vulnerability, and passion they have brought to this production. Watching them grow in confidence and collaboration throughout rehearsals has been the greatest privilege. Their willingness to trust the process, support one another, and throw themselves wholeheartedly into the work is what makes live theatre so meaningful. Our crew, led by the always brilliant Dugal Parker and Harry Whale, have shown a professionalism and focus above their years that cannot go unnoticed.
A special thank you to our author, George Kemp, for this excellent, empowering show, and for being so generous with us throughout this process. You have been an inspiring figure for these students.
Anika Banerjee (23) & Josh Merten (20) Directors
Cast and Roles
Shack
Ellen
Hamish
Sophie Fennell
Lachlan Funke-Andrews
Production Crew
The Real Inspector Hound
Directors
Mia Heath
Harry Bartlett
Shack Directors
Anika Banerjee
Josh Merten
Technical Director
Harry Whale
Set Design & Construction
Dugal Parker
Set Construction
Paul Harmon
Stage
Photography
Videography
KJR
Costumes
The
Props
Weapons
Alumni Directors
Anika Banerjee
Anika was born in Sydney and moved to India where the introduction to Indian Classical Dance sparked her interest in theatrical performance. She relocated from India back to Sydney at the age of 25 and was in every production possible here at school. After graduating from Barker College in 2023, she studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and graduated with a Diploma of Stage and Screen Performance. While also having directed the Year 10 play last year, she is studying Media and Communications at Macquarie University and is also one of the drama teachers for the After-Hours Drama program here at Barker College.
Harry Bartlett
Since graduating in 2020, Harry has completed a Bachelor of Communications in Media Arts and Production at UTS and is currently undertaking a Master of Teaching at the University of Notre Dame Australia. Throughout his university career, he discovered a passion for creating original works through directing and producing his own films, as well as writing and performing music with his band, The Enthusiast. He has released the single Antiques Roadshow on Spotify and is currently preparing for the release of the band’s debut album in late 2026. This production also marks his second time directing at Barker.
Mia Heath
Since graduating from Barker in 2020, Mia has completed a Bachelor of Psychology at Macquarie University and is now undertaking her Honours year in Psychological Science. Her thesis research investigates how well a commonly used physical activity questionnaire captures real-world activity in people living with cardiovascular disease
and related health risk factors. Alongside her studies, she works with Toolbox Education, delivering evidence-based, preventative mental health workshops grounded in psychology to K-12 students across NSW, QLD and the ACT. Mia also volunteers with Lifeline Australia as a Telephone Crisis Supporter and has recently progressed into the internship stage of her training. Theatre first sparked Mia’s interest in empathy, connection, and understanding human behaviour long before she formally studied psychology. She is passionate about creating a space where young performers feel supported to take risks, build confidence, and develop a deeper understanding of both themselves and the people around them.
Josh Merten
Josh is a graduate from Actors Centre Australia, and has since worked as an actor, musician, theatre director and writer. His theatre credits include touring nationally and internationally with Poetry in Action, performing as Alexei in First, Do No Harm at KXT (2026), and Gabriel and Christopher in Foam at Qtopia (2025). Josh recently starred as Yossi in the darkly comedic short film, Mezuzah Man (2025), and is set to appear in two upcoming feature films, Caught Up, with Basha Films, and Mad Extravagant City, directed by David Burrowes.
Josh has co-directed two original works with ACA, No Feedback Please (2022), and Paper Cuts (2023), and was assistant director to Anthony Skuse for Gravity at Qtopia (2025). His debut collection of poetry, Harnett Lane, was published by Ginninderra Press in 2023, and he has since had poems included in Telling Australia’s Truth (2024) collated by Stephen Matthews, and Diptych’s Transience (2024) and Whimsy (2025).
With Thanks to...
Phillip Heath AM, Head of Barker College, for his passionate belief and ongoing support of the Arts
Deputy Head Operation, Natalie Potent and Deputy Head People & Culture, Alison Binet
Barker Executive Team and Barker Council
Head of Drama, Pia Midgley
George Kemp, for his generosity and support for this production
Barker Drama and Dance Staff for their encouragement, unstoppable energy and commitment
Barker College co-curricular staff for their support and understanding, Sports, Cadets and Music Departments in particular
Barker Communications
Barker Print Department
Barker Catering
Barker Maintenance, Cleaning staff and Security
Barker Student Services
The parents and families of our cast, crew and creative team for their continued support, patience and enthusiasm during the rehearsal process and performances