Schools on Stage

SPARK2024

The 2024 School Performing Arts Resource Kit (SPARK) is out now.

The free on-line magazine includes a comprehensive national guide to shows that are available for school students for excursion and incursion.

Plus specials features to assist teachers staging a show with chapters on Sound and Light, Choosing a Show, Costumes, Props and Sets.

SPARK is available year round at www.stagewhispers.com.au/spark

Features include a guide to the best digital tools for school productions.

Shrek The Musical Jr

By David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori. Excelsior Primary School. Directed by Tara Oorjitham. City of Gosnells, Don Russell Performing Arts Centre, Thornlie, WA. September 20, 2023

The Laramie Project

By Moisés Kaufman and the Members of the Tectonic Theatre. Directed by Stefan Brand. Willetton Senior High School, WA. Sep 13, 2023

The Laramie Project as presented by Willetton Senior High School’s Year 11 Drama Students in a Brechtian style ensemble production, with cohesion and outstanding teamwork. Although I had the pleasure of viewing a preview evening, the production itself featured food supplied by Certificate 2 Hospitality Students, who always supply outstanding quality fare.

Disney Frozen Jr

By Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, and Jennifer Lee. Kalamunda Senior High School. Directed by Anna Head. Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre, WA. September 1-2, 2023

Kalamunda Senior High School’s production of Frozen Jr was a mammoth show, with over 100 Year 8-10 students in the cast and crew. With huge production numbers that filled every inch of the Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre stage, this production was very warmly received by its capacity audiences – despite its icy themes.

Disney High School Musical On Stage

By David Simpatico. Holy Cross College, Ellenbrook, WA. Directed by Shelly Miller. Aug 10-12, 2023

Holy Cross College’s Disney High School Musical on Stage is the biggest production staged by the college to date, with over 60 students in the cast, and another 20 or so on the crew. Attracting very healthy audiences over its short season, it was a wonderful celebration of collaboration and talent.

Chicago - High School Edition

By John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse. Mercedes College. Directed by Kathleen Cocks. The Regal Theatre, Subiaco, WA. Jul 28-30, 2023

Mercedes College production of Chicago High School Edition is a slick, highly polished production with top notch production values, excellent performances, and clever direction. Performing to capacity audiences at The Regal Theatre, you would be hard pressed to find another school production of this standard. 

Teacher Music Theatre Scholarship

In 2023, the Junior Theatre Festival (JTF) Australia, along with major sponsor Music Theatre International - Australasia, are proud to again offer the Stage Whispers Teacher Support Scholarship, a unique professional development experience for one lucky Australian teacher.

The recipient will enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to join the action at the Civic Theatre Newcastle for the full two-day Junior Theatre Festival Australia event on 27th and 28th October this year.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Schools Edition)

Written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott. Rosny College, Tasmania. Darren Sangwell (Director). Nicole Ottrey (Costumes). Suze Quinn and Andrew Castles (Musical Direction). Dwight Brown Auditorium. 8 – 17 June 2023

This is the first time that the Schools version of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert has been staged.

Thrilling and Moving Shakespeare

Sport for Jove theatre company previews their 2023 season in NSW, QLD and beyond.

Kids do it effortlessly, they make and they believe. Adults can so easily forget the value of both. Theatre is all about making and thrives only on believing.

After the tumultuousness of the last couple of years, felt deeply in all schools, 2023 is a chance to come together and celebrate the joy of theatre. So, what’s on?

I Wanna Be Yours

The experience of a young modern love in a big multicultural city is the subject of Melbourne Theatre Company’s May production I Wanna Be Yours, which is also part of the Company’s Education and Families Program. One of the stars - Oz Malik  - explains why he believes it is a must see for students and the general public.

What is I Wanna Be Yours about?