The Adelaide Fringe and Adelaide Festival are providing wonderful opportunities for our boys to view diverse and exciting theatre. A highlight so far was the Year 11 and 12 viewing of the immersive UK performance Blindness adapted by Simon Stephens. This dystopian performance narrated by Juliet Stevenson has the audience as central figures in this dystopian world where a Blindness pandemic has infected the world. This innovative performance was delivered entirely through sound and was an incredibly unique experience. Throughout the year boys from Year 7 to 12 will have the opportunity to view live theatre at school and off campus which will enrich and inform their own development as theatre makers.
The year 12 Drama class recently participated in a masterclass with Award winning Director and founder of Flying Penguin Productions, David Mealor on their Creative Presentation of the works of American playwright Sam Shepard. The students were inspired by his clarity of direction and sophisticated understanding of the material as he directed the class to understand the stylistic features of Shepard’s work and its autobiographical significance. This is one of many workshops planned for the year in which the Drama students will engage with professional practitioners in design, stage combat, clowning and Physical Theatre.
Co-curricular Tech Crew started last week. This year the group is being led by Dan Woolford and Nivven Barlow. The boys will be learning about all aspects of technical theatre such as lighting, AV, sound and film and taking on backstage roles in Performing Arts events this year. We welcome any new boys who would like to be part of the group which runs on Wednesdays from 3.45pm to 4.45pm in Anzac Hall.
In the coming weeks, we will be holding auditions for the Co-Curricular Musical Rock of Ages. Boys from Years 6 to 12 are invited to audition and will be working with girls from other schools on this project. Set in the 1980’s this play follows the story of aspiring rocker Drew and small-town girl Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes as they try to find love and fame on Sunset Strip. When German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into a shopping centre the rock community must band together to try and stop it. With music of hit bands such as Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake this musical is dynamic and high energy.
We are also looking for boys to be part of the production in off stage roles. There will be a Zoom Information Meeting on Tuesday 15 March at 7.00pm (Meeting ID: 4938830517).
It promises to be an exciting and productive year in Drama.
Sharon Reynolds
Head of Drama