Drama 2018

High School Musical

This was a big year for Drama, starting off with STC’s turn at the annual St Thomas/Villa musical. This time around we put on 6 shows of High School Musical – a choice I have to point out was made at the end of Grease in 2016 when I was silly enough to ask the cast who would be returning what they wanted to do. 

We had a huge cast and crew with over 110 students from both schools being involved on and off the stage. Double casting most of the main roles meant that more students got to showcase their talents with old hands like Anaru Shadbolt and Oscar Sergel-Stringer being known fabulous quantities, and allowing for newcomers like Jack Hurley and Isaac Smith to show us what they’re made of. 

A stellar time was had by all involved and the audience reactions were amazing. In 2019 it is Villa’s turn and I can’t wait to see Footloose.

Blame and Singer

Next up for public performance was the Year 12 class, who put on two different performances of two different shows, both adapted from works by New Zealand author, Bernard Beckett. One cast did ‘Blame’ which is about the repercussions of bullying and how it is all of society’s problem. Set in a court room with flashbacks to how a boy snaps under constant pressure, it is not an easy piece to do, but the Year 12’s involved related to the source material and pulled through.

The other cast put on ‘Singer’ which is about the question of what is one life worth? A group of people are kidnapped and tortured while being live streamed to a paying audience. The audience gets to vote on what happens to the prisoners, which is macabre, but the money raised goes to saving the lives of thousands. It’s an interesting story that the boys showcased well.

Year 11 Drama

Then it was the turn of the Year 11 class, with three different plays. One is about what happens in a detention room when the teacher isn’t there, and it shows that everyone has a story. Then there was a Brechtian piece about what it is like to be growing up as a boy today, that spoke directly to the audience. And finally was a piece involving lots of freezes and fourth wall breaks, about coping with tragedy in an already broken family.

The Crucible

Finally for the major performances was a presentation of Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’, that is a very famous piece with great depth. It deals with the Salem witch trials in 1692, but is also linked to the McCarthy trials in the 1960’s. The stories it tells about political manipulation are still applicable today, and how fake news can get out of hand. We had to rope in girls from Villa to do this play, and they did an amazing job, allowing the Year 13’s (and some Year 11’s), to shine in a very adult performance.

As well as the major performances, there are always smaller, in class ones, script writing, devising and prop making. 2019 promises to be just as busy, and new stars will shine through.

Angela Smith - Drama