Drama Department Update

Junior Musical Theatre

JMT is well under way at 8.15am on Monday mornings with a highly enthusiastic group of Year 9 and 10 students, run by Kirsten Clark with assistance from Mark Kilsby and senior students Noah Purcell and Jack Billing. Unfortunately, this year our numbers are significantly down across all Drama co-curricular groups. Despite this, we have a lively and passionate bunch who are bringing our Little Theatre to life! In our Junior Theatre Showcase in November, they will perform the musical - The Ogres’ Swamp. 

Theatresports

Our Theatresports Club has gradually expanded this term with sixteen boys now attending our Tuesday and Thursday lunchtime sessions. Theatresports is on throughout the year and open to all students. Senior and Junior teams are selected to represent the school in various competitions. Our next competition will be in September, held at The Globe and will be run by Centrepoint Theatre. This is our annual, regional competition against local high schools. 

What is it? Theatresports is great for people who wish to gain confidence in front of an audience through short Drama games. It encourages performers to take risks in a good-natured, safe environment. Selected teams compete in Super Eight and the Regional schools competition.

When? Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes in The Little Theatre (H Drama Block)

Who can join? Open to all

 Staff contact: Mrs Coetzee (H3) coetzees@pnbhs.school.nz

Drama Workshops
We have completed two professional workshops this term which were run by Centrepoint Theatre, both workshops were managed by Mr David Ladderman. The first session was a clowning workshop open to all students who had an interest in mime, stage combat and character physicality. The second workshop specifically catered for Level 3 Drama students, who are currently undergoing a devising assessment.

The Rector’s Company

Our school Shakespeare group, run by Mr Phil Mills has had a busy and successful term! They performed their scene from A Winter’s Tale (Act 1, Scene ii) at the regional Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival in April. PNBHS were selected to represent Manawatu/Whanganui at the Sheilah Winn National Shakespeare Festival, run by Shakespeare’s Globe Centre in New Zealand, with the support of Otago University. Congratulations to Matthew Wongchoti, Eli Hancock, Jacob Waugh and Jonathan Stone who participated in this event. The group was awarded the 'Best Understanding of the Play' Cup, and a special mention to Eli Hancock who won the 'Extraordinary Performance' award for his performance as Leontes. 

Congratulations to Jacob Waugh and Eli Hancock who have been selected for the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand National Shakespeare Schools Production. The NSSP is a residential week-long intensive course, studying aspects of Shakespeare’s works and three of his plays in particular under the direction of leading directors. At the NSSP Eli and Jacob will have the opportunity to work with high-calibre tutors running workshops with the whole group for half of each day. For the other half, the students, in their three groups, rehearse with their Director and group for the week, culminating in public performances of scenes from the play each cast has studied. 

Junior Play

Junior Play rehearsals have commenced for 2022! This year, seven Junior students, under the direction of Mrs Coetzee, are devising a performance around the theme of: the negative impacts digital devices and social media can have on our mental health and well-being. We look forward to presenting this in the Term 4 Junior Showcase, alongside the Junior Musical Theatre Company.

Dance

Congratulations to Year 11 student Jake Maskill, who scored Top Senior in his jazz and hip hop and Top Senior Overall in jazz/contemporary/lyrical. He also won Modern Championships and Hip-Hop Championships this month at Central Fusion Dance Competition! What a star! 

Senior Production 2023

Oklahoma! has been carried over from this year to next and Mr Burton is starting to update materials on our website: www.pnbhspnghsproduction.com. As usual, there will be a compulsory Information Evening for all CAST auditionees on the last Monday of Term 3, Monday Sept 29, 7.00pm in The Speirs Centre.

Reigniting the Performing Arts at PNBHS

The changing world into which all our young men will graduate into over the next few years, highly values creativity, innovation, teamwork and determination – qualities at the forefront of learning in the Performing Arts. With changes forced on us by Covid over the last couple of years, our Drama Departments has seen a drop in numbers in co-curricular activities. This means a number of students are missing out on opportunities which could be major steps in building a happy and fulfilling life. We’re going to change that! We are driving an awareness campaign of what co-curricular Drama Activities are on offer in the school - most of which students can still be involved in this year. While online is where we communicate a lot of our  material, we now also have a noticeboard on the library wall showing all the options which are also shared below:

Drama co-curricular opportunities

Leading the way in Dramatic Performing Arts opportunities for young men –

WE CHANGE LIVES!!!