Performing Arts

Arts Performing

This has definitely been a challenging year for all of the faculties in the College. The Mazenod Drama department has taken on this challenge of online learning by getting our students to devise and produce creative video pieces to replace the live performances of past years. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Becker, Mrs Hindle and Miss Comerford for their hard work in building the Drama department through their skills and enthusiasm in their virtual classrooms.

Once again the Drama department had the honour of VCAA Top Class, with two of our 2019 graduates receiving invitations to audition for the Season of Excellence. Lucas Affieri and Adam Balm both achieved an A+ for their Drama solos, which places them in the top level of State results for the solo examination. I would like to congratulate the boys for this fantastic accomplishment.

An important element of VCE Drama is attendance at professional productions. We were lucky to attend the performance of Billy Elliott the Musical at the Regent Theatre before the lock down took place. This experience gave the boys a wonderful taste of musical theatre in a professional environment.

Unfortunately the annual school musical, performed in collaboration with Avila College, was one of the many Performing Arts events that was not able to take place this year. However, if augurs well, this important event in our College calendar will be back next year, bigger and better than before!

The annual Performing Arts Festival has become a highlight in the school year and this year’s effort certainly did not disappoint in maintaining a high standard. Due to restrictions we were not able to present a live show, but through the extraordinary efforts of our Performing Arts prefects a recorded version of this event was created and presented online during Term 4. For this event the staff are the helpers, as the Senior Performing Arts students take the reins of leadership from the first conceptual meeting to the final bow of performance.

It has been a very busy year for the Drama department and with ever-growing numbers of boys choosing to undertake the Drama electives, it is clear to see that the Performing Arts culture in the school is indeed alive and well. It will be exciting to see how the journey will continue next year.

Felicity Kamevaar