2 minute read
Drama in Action
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The Year 12 Drama students of StandUp Theatre Company had the opportunity to work with local actors and theatremakers Ellen Steele (State Theatre Company of South Australia, isthisyours?) and Matt Crook (State Theatre Company) in a developing a character workshop in preparation for their Term 2 production, ‘Girls Like That’ by Evan Placey. The play centres on the topical themes of social media and consent as well as the challenges faced by women now and historically in having agency over their lives, their identity and their bodies. StandUp will present their show from Tuesday 11 to Thursday 13 May in the Newman Theatre. Meanwhile, the Year 11 students have recently formed their new company, Aspect Theatre Company. Their mission is to create theatre that provides insight into the reality and imagination of young people. Ms Jane Danvers helped officially launch their company ahead of their maiden production ‘The Games of Life’. The production explored the challenges of teenage life through the lens of the games we play: trying to fit in is like a game of Tetris where trying to find something in common with a different generation can feel like a match game without matches.
Local actor and theatremaker, Nathan O’Keefe, spent time with the students developing skills for devising theatre to help inform their work. The Year 10s participated in a full-day workshop on the Italian Renaissance slapstick theatre form, Commedia dell’Arte, with Australia’s leading expert in the style, Dr Corinna Di Niro. They devised and presented their original Commedia play, ‘Il Dottore’s Pizza Vaccine,’ which told a tale of love triangles at first sight, greed, dance battles and a surprising cure for COVID-19, which also helped to cure lovesickness! Who knew?
In other year levels, the Year 6s have started working on their musical. For the first time, they will collaborate with Year 6 Music. Their Musical will be presented later this year. Next term, the Year 9s will perform ‘The Girl Who Cried Wolf’ while the Year 8s will present ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’, which will include a set design concept and technical plot they have all been able to contribute to.
Aldo Longobardi Head of Drama
