Schools on Stage

Bell Shakespeare announces recipients of the 2024 John Bell Scholarship

Bell Shakespeare has announced the recipients of the 2024 John Bell Scholarship, offering four talented young actors from regional areas a life-changing opportunity to work with some of Australia’s most respected actors, directors, and educators.

Drama Changes Dumped

Controversial changes to the Higher School Certificate Drama curriculum have been dumped by the NSW Education Standards Authority.

Under the proposed changes it would have been possible for students to complete the entire course without being externally assessed.

A protest campaign against the changes led by Drama NSW and high profile actors culminated in forum held at the Seymour Centre on Monday (pictured above).

HSC Drama and Music Debate

Drama and Music Teachers in New South Wales are revolting against proposed changes to the Higher School Certificate, which will force students to do longer exams and fewer practical performances.

The changes were released by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) last month with teachers only given weeks to provide feedback.

In HSC Drama, ensemble group performances marked by external examiners now contribute 30 per cent of the HSC exam mark. Under the changes in future students would sit a 30-minute longer exam.

New York Educator Scholarship

Drama Teacher Wins New York Trip

A passionate drama teacher and director at Viewbank College in Melbourne, Pasquale Bartalotta (pictured above), has been awarded the highly coveted Travel Gang Theatre Educator Scholarship.

The prize will take him to New York City, where he will gain invaluable experiences that will shape his work as an educator and mentor. Pasquale was  selected from 112 applicants vying for the scholarship.

We Will Rock You - Young at Part

By Queen and Ben Elton. Aquinas College. Directed by Emma Leopardi. McAppion Theatre, Aquinas College, Salter Point, WA. Oct 23-25, 2024

We Will Rock You - Young at Part was presented by Year 7 to 9 students from Aquinas Middle School, with guest female performers from various schools. I was lucky enough to see this production with Aquinas’ Year 7 cohort who watched with rapt attention and gave the show a standing ovation. 

Arsenic and Old Lace

By Joseph Kesselring. St Mark’s Anglican School. Directed by Scott Robertson. Barbara Godwin Performing Arts Complex, St Mark’s Anglican School, Hillarys, WA. Oct 24 - 25, 2024

This well-known 1942 black comedy was performed with enthusiasm and flair by Year 10 Drama Students from St Mark’s Anglican School. 

Ninth Annual Junior Theatre Festival Australia Returns To Newcastle

Festival to Showcase New Broadway Junior Musicals and Feature Global Theatre Experts

The Junior Theatre Festival Australia (JTF Australia) is set to return to the Civic Theatre Newcastle from October 25-26, 2024 for its Ninth Annual Festival, bringing together some of the best young musical theatre talent from across Australia and New Zealand. This year’s festival promises to be the most spectacular yet, featuring exciting performances, workshops, and special appearances by some of the industry’s top talent.

Queens

By Kristen Doherty. St Marks Anglican Community School. Directed by Chris McRae. Barbara Godwin Performing Arts Complex, St Marks Anglican Community School, Whitfords WA. 12-13 September, 2024

The Lion King Jr

By Elton John, Tim Rice, Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi. Kalamunda Senior High School. Directed by Anna Head. Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre, WA. Aug 30-31, 2024

Kalamunda Senior High School’s production of Disney The Lion King Jr, was a huge production that featured a cast of 92, hundreds of costumes, contribution from multiple departments within the school and parent involvement. Playing for a very short season, the final day included three public performances to capacity audiences.

Mamma Mia!

By Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. St Mark’s Theatre Company, St Marks Anglican School. Directed by Chris McRae. Barbara Godwin Theatre, St Marks Anglican School, Hillarys, WA. Aug 7-10, 2024

St Mark’s Theatre Company embraced the joy of the Abba Musical, Mamma Mia! with a big production with high production values, that involved a plethora of people in the St Marks Anglican School community.