2017 kicked off with Hagley’s annual “All the World’s a Stage” fundraiser cabaret, held at The Open Stage on 30th and 31st March.

This year we had 26 talented students from Years 11 to 13 performing memorable musical items for our audiences' pleasure. It was also four wonderful students, Joseph Noster, Jack Sutton, Harrison Searancke and James Harkness, who took over the roles of directors this year. They organised the selected songs, the rehearsal schedule and the crew briefings, and gave Nanako and Natalie regular updates on how things were progressing.

After a weekend of long dress rehearsals, the opening night came. It was fantastic! The cast performed to a full house and dazzled with their talent and energy. They received praise and strong applause and were buzzing with excitement as they left. This was repeated on the final night, with one very significant addition. The student leaders had requested that we included “Shave for a Cure” during the evening; a fundraising event that involves willing participants having their heads totally shaved. The audience was told that if we could raise over $500 during the show that three students and two staff members would be willing volunteers. In just over an hour, we had raised $600. Hagley students Joseph Noster, James and Harkness and Alyss Burgess had their heads shaved along with teachers Kevin Roberts (Music) and Jenny O’Sullivan (Year 12 Dean) who bravely joined them.

In total, we raised $2000 this year to be donated to both the Leukemia and Cancer Societies respectively. This is the result of a great deal of hard work from both the cast and crew and from the very generous support of our audiences. Though the curtain has fallen on this year’s Cabaret we all have wonderful memories to take with us and look forward to making some new ones when we host Cabaret 2018!