Schools on Stage

Annie

By Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin. Mercedes’ College. Directed by Kathleen Cocks. The Regal Theatre, Subiaco, WA. Jul 30-Aug 1, 2021

Mercedes’ College’s Annie is a big, beautiful production, bursting with joy, energy and enthusiasm. Top notch production values, expert stagecraft, and excellent teamwork - this was an outstanding return to the Regal for Mercedes, who sadly lost their 2020 production due to shut-down and restrictions.

Legally Blonde

By Laurence O’Keefe, Nell Benjamin and Heather Hach. Directed by Sharon Kiely. Joy Shepherd Performing Arts Centre, St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls, Mosman Park, WA, June 17-19, 2021

Disney The Little Mermaid Jr

Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater. Book by Doug Wright. St James’ Anglican School. Directed by David Johnson. Allan Shaw Centre, Peter Moyes Anglican Community School, Mindarie, WA. 8 May, 2021

Mamma Mia!

Music and Lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Book by Catherine Johnson. directed by Zoe Parker. Centre for Performing Arts, All Saints College, Bull Creek, WA. Apr 21 - 24, 2021

All Saints College’s Hothouse Company presented this popular musical to capacity audiences, in a season sadly interrupted by Perth’s latest COVID lockdown. A highly energetic, keen and focused young company, this was an innovative production that was very well received.

NIDA Creative Schools Programs

The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) offers performing arts educational activities to support learning for both school students and schoolteachers. This includes specialist training, access to industry professionals, guest artists and resources.

Reflective of NIDA’s world-renowned approach to education and training, developed over 60 years, the programs are carefully designed to provide engaging skills development to enhance the early childhood, primary and secondary syllabuses.

The Visit

By Friedrich Dürrenmatt. Willeton Senior High School, WA. Directed by Isla Simeoni, Cooper Jefferyes, Emily Kirk, Mihir Pareek, Ollie Kopcyzk, Rameen Asad, Sara Zulaikha, Aaron James, Vaness Bona, Shenal Constantine, Sukhchain Singh. Mar 31 - Apr 1, 2021.

Willeton Senior High School’s ATAR Drama students and Certificate II Hospitality students have joined forces to create a very engaging piece of dinner theatre, that entertained and engaged the audience and left them very gastronomically satisfied.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

By Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Linda Woolverton. Iona Presentation College. Directed by Joshua Brant. Regal Theatre, Hay St, Subiaco. Mar 25-28, 2021

After a year-long wait Iona Presentation College’s production finally hit the stage at the Regal Theatre, and this warm, well-presented production was absolutely worth the wait.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Book by Linda Woolverton. The Reddam House High School. Directed by Dean Hattingh. NIDA Parade Theatre. March 24 and 25, 2021

Beauty and the Beast is a musical where you cannot shirk on the set or costumes, and this performance was a feast for the eyes from beginning to end.

Shows for Schools in 2021

School productions are back on stage in 2021, with major companies launching their incursion and excursion programs.

Complete Works Goes Global

Stage Whispers asked Andrew Blackman, founder of Melbourne based theatre company Complete Works, about all things theatre, going digital and surviving the pandemic.

Complete Works has been delivering live incursions to schools around Victoria for 21 years. Challenged by the changing demand and delivery that last year’s lockdown introduced, the company created online resources to support remote learning, allowing it to reach interstate and international schools for the first time.