HSC drama

Congratulations to Georgia Appleton who was nominated for OnSTAGE, the HSC drama showcase with her monologue Living with the Enemy.

The 2018 HSC drama class approached their studies with energy, commitment and imagination and the resulting work was thoroughly engaging for their audiences and, ultimately, for their examiners. The students’ understanding of theatre-making grew enormously across the year, with one of the highlights involving working with actor/director Anthony Gooley, in our burgeoning partnership with the Australian Theatre for Young People. Anthony was our artist-in-residence for two weeks in Term 2 and he brought great knowledge, skills and humour to the complex processes of play-building. The students selected a topic from the NESA list and then used this idea as a springboard into their work. They employed performance styles and theatrical techniques that best served the intention of their work and this collaboration required agility, critical thinking skills and a dedication to the group. The original possibilities were endless and the final choices made were distinct in their voice and form and reflective of their hard work and grit. The showcase of monologues were also impressive in their maturity and variety. Students researched and ultimately identified the script that they felt allowed them the opportunities to connect and engage with their project. As they moved the words from the page to the floor, students found the rigour of the process energising and challenging, as they endeavoured to make meaning of every moment. They sought to sustain their character with conviction and complexity, shape action that was truthful and engaging, and tackle the nerves of a performance exam – no mean feat. There were laughs and some tears along the way, but the Class of 2018 proved themselves to be dedicated and resilient in their pursuit of performances of which they could be proud.

Ms Joanne Martin Head of Drama