Drama

Drama Trip to Auckland

On the first of April, eight senior drama students went to Auckland to watch the Haka Party Incident directed by Katie Wolfie at the ASB Waterfront Theatre.

The Haka Party Incident resurrects the eventful day when a group of University of Auckland engineering students, who are rehearsing their annual tradition of a mock haka, are confronted by the activist group, He Taua. Violence erupted that sent ripples through the nation and changed race relations in New Zealand forever. We were all very emotional after this play and enjoyed it very much. It was incredibly insightful to watch professional actors use some of the techniques and conventions that we are studying at the moment. After the play, we went to the zoo which was light, fun entertainment and just what we needed after watching The Haka Party Incident. Overall, the day was a success as we all learnt a lot and had fun as well. A big thank you to Ms Harland for organising the trip and to Richard Hamer for driving us there and back. Hannah Dodds

“Improv Club this year has been super successful; I love running the club and I love everyone in it. The kids in the club are some of the funniest people I know and they have made the experience leading the club absolutely fabulous. I’d highly recommend that anyone who likes drama, or just likes playing games to come round and give it a shot.”

Captain, Ryan Kennedy. Kia Ora! My name is Courtney Abbot and I have had the privilege of working at Whakātane High School for Term Three as a student teacher, specialising in Drama with the wonderful Angela Harland. My experience has been one of adaptation; two days into my practical experience we were placed in lockdown and I was thrust into remote learning, adapting all plans to suit. This was challenging and the best learning I could have had; it showed me that teachers spend their time unfalteringly investing their energy and resources for the academic, intellectual and moral growth of the children - in any and all situations. The team work and support of the staff of Whakātane High school during this time was something to be admired, it was seamless and positively studentcentred during a very uncertain time. Often their efforts go unnoticed and are taken for granted. I want to acknowledge you all for your work during this difficult term; you are all incredible. Working with the Drama students has been thrilling; they have reinvigorated the passion I have for Drama as a subject. They have shown me empathy, creativity, teamwork and the skill of trusting a process. Seeing the confidence that these students have developed in Drama is so pleasing as they will take this with them through the rest of their school life and beyond. For me, this is the greatest achievement of my practicum and I imagine my career going forward. This solidifies for me the importance of Drama in schools. All drama is a story and it is often used as a way of encouraging and developing thinking, frequently dealing with big questions and issues of the world that these students will enter into. It has been a whirlwind and I am so grateful to have been a part of the Whakātane High School whānau for a small time. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Courtney Abbot Whakatāne High School | Te Waka Kura 2021 31