To Kill A Mockingbird

Scotch College Melbourne in conjunction with PLC Burwood chose, To Kill A Mockingbird as one of its Year 11 and 12 productions this year. Directed by Stephen Ritchie, the play utilised the resources of the McComas Theatre with its giant proscenium stage and large auditorium. This is an excellent adaptation of the novel by Harper Lee so often studied as a Middle school English text. This show is extremely accessible to audiences of all ages and can occupy a varied cast of about 20 or more.

The students participated as actors and technicians in a professional venue, but like all of our shows, all acting and technical roles were undertaken and operated by current students. By placing this limitation on all our shows, we hope to give students a complete sense of ownership and also to set parameters around what might otherwise subvert the focus away from student achievement.

Though using elements of non-naturalism, the spectacular set was quite cheap to build (less than $800) being a fairly flimsy braced timber frame clad in cardboard ‘weatherboards’ cut on a frame saw. Scenic Art on the walls and floor did the rest! Love to chat to anyone who might contemplate staging this great play.

Stephen Ritchie

Head of Drama Dept

Scotch College

Melbourne