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

There was somewhat of a Henry VIII Festival happening in Western Australia, when Queens took to the stage, with Goldfields Repertory and Sawyers Valley PS also presenting Henry themed plays that week - and with some of our Finley Adjudicators seeing all three plays. St Mark’s Queens, performed by Year 11 Drama Students, was by far the darkest of the trio, with King Henry stuck in purgatory forced to relive his sins against his six wives.

Staged simply, but with some clever lighting by Jarrod Hutchison, Bella Cooper, Maya Sharp and Noah Diamond, this mostly inexperienced cast, with many making stage debuts, pulled off a very presentable and interesting little show. A great script choice for a female heavy drama cohort, this play has plenty of female roles and some lovely juicy scenes.

At times some of the performers were a little too courtly and quiet in their delivery, but they worked well as a team and told the story well.

Lone male in this class, Jarrod Hutchison, played the departed Henry. A challenging role, as he was both literally chained to his chair, and placed at the back of the stage, he performed well. His living equivalent was played by Skye Mirfield, stepping into breeches, in a strong and clearly spoken performance. 

Henry’s torturer comes in the form of a courtly jester, ‘The Fool’ played with high energy and great projection by Georgia Plant.

The six wives were a varied group, but all were committed to their roles. Lovely work from Olivia Dando (a regal Catherine of Aragon), Maya Sharp (a confident, self-assured Anne Boleyn), Kendall Chin (a sweet Jane Seymour), Jasmine Mansell (a well-spoken Anne of Cleves), Bella Cooper (an impetuous Kathryn Howard) and Ruby Spath (an intelligent Katherine Parr).

The play is punctuated with gossip from the court, by an ensemble group that is supplemented by some of the actresses playing queens. Good work from Ayla Colquhoun, (who also played Queen Elizabeth), Thalia Fink and Talia Davey.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Jaina van Reyk