With all of the rehearsals, performances and excursions that go on in The SCOTS PGC College drama department, it’s not often that Mrs Kirstie Andrews has the chance to update everyone on what has been happening.
However, last semester the students had such a fantastic time that she wanted to stop to reflect and share their experiences with everyone.
The Year 9 and Year 10 classes have just completed a unit on children’s theatre. These two cohorts were given a fantastic opportunity to interact with and perform for the Year 2 and 3 classes, respectively.
During their first visit to their junior school audience, the students read children’s storybooks to small groups. Following this, they wrote and delivered their own drama workshop in the role as ‘workshop facilitators’.
A highlight in the Year 2 workshop was the appearance of Muddypaws the mischievous dog (played by Emily Bass).
Similarly, the Year 3 class seemed to enjoy making their very own chocolate making machine, using only their voices and bodies.
Finally, in the closing weeks of Term 2, both classes (Years 9 and 10) performed their own children’s theatre play.
The Year 2s were very lucky to watch two fabulous performances produced by the Year 9s and based on the books “Ella Kazoo will not brush her hair” (performed by Aidyn Jensen, Taliyah Wilson, Jack Beattie, Jacalyn Holmes and Abbey McNamara) and “Muddypaws” (performed by Jillian Mortison, Demi Hayes, Emily Bass, Maddison Schoupp and Jack Beattie).
Alternatively, the Year 3s were fortunate enough to be an audience to the premiere performance of a new children’s theatre play written by Year 10 students Jacinta Johnstone, Kacey Charlton, Samantha McDouall, Sarah Bourke and Hayley Lang, about the extinction of the cocoa bean on earth, leading to the death of chocolate!
“I was very proud of the work this group did as they managed to write a very enjoyable performance that taught their audience (Year 3) about ‘the planets and space’, a unit they will study later in the year,” Mrs Andrews said.
In the Year 11/12 class, the students have had a busy semester. Their year began with a study of acting and saw some fantastic performances by all involved.
Following this, students stepped into the shoes of a professional director to co-ordinate their own rehearsal.
In the next unit, an in-depth study of Absurd Theatre, the group was challenged to think outside the square when analysing the live performance viewed (Brisbane Arts Theatre’s interpretation of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead) and producing their own performances.
“I have been very pleased with the hard work of this group and know that Semester Two’s study of comedy will result in some fantastic efforts,” Mrs Andrews said.
“Finally, it is not often that I get the chance to showcase the benefits of drama to the general school population.
“However, the Year 12 English study of William Shakespeare’s MacBeth presented this opportunity. When studying the play, the English faculty were keen to have the students engage with the story and so, I conducted a dramatic re-telling of the plot, using the drama game Whoosh.
“This activity required the students to take on roles (helped by the wearing of a key costume piece) to depict the story of the play.
“Once they were able to get over their nervousness, the group had a great time playing out the story. Special mention must go to Glenna Marletto who received a prize for best actor/actress,” she said.
