Schools on Stage

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. 

Catch Me If You Can

 

Book by Terrence McNally. Score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.  Rosny College, Tasmania. Clare Latham (Direction). Roz Wren (Set). Suze Quinn and Matthew Ives (Musical Direction). Hannah Marmion and Madison Heidenreich (Choreography). Gareth Keys (Lighting). Samantha James-Radford (Vocal Coaching). Nicole Ottrey (Costumes). The Dwight Brown Auditorium. 6-15 June, 2024 

Legally Blonde Jr

By Laurence O’Keefe, Nell Benjamin and Heather Hach. Western Theatrics. Directed by Stephen Carr. Koorliny Arts Centre, Kwinana, WA. May 24-26, 2024

Western Theatrics is presenting Legally Blonde Jr for a short season at Koorliny Arts Centre. Presented in tandem with “little sister” production Finding Nemo Jr., this production features a predominantly older and more experienced cast, all of whom are still youth performers.

Finding Nemo Jr.

Book, Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson–Lopez and Robert Lopez.  Book adapted by Lindsay Anderson.  Music/orchestrations adapted and arranged by Myrna Conn. Producer and Director Madeleine Johns for Roar Academy at Theatre 102, Redcliffe. May 18 & 19, 2024

Brainstorming For a Better Future

Clinical psychologist Dr Ameika Johnson explains how live theatre can help young people tackle online exploitation and bullying.

The internet is a complex and rapidly changing space. Technologies like artificial intelligence, augmented reality and the metaverse have the potential for great benefit but also carry the risk of great harm, for children and young people.

Live theatre provides a platform to explore these opportunities and challenges and empower students to take positive action in the digital world.

Betty Blue Eyes

Perth College

Book by Ron Cowan and Daniel Lipman, Music by George Styles, Lyrics by Anthony Drewe. Directed by Tyler Jones. Judith Cottier Theatre, Perth College, My Lawley, WA. Mar 14-16, 2024

Perth College presented the WA Premiere of the very British musical, Betty Blue Eyes. Beautifully presented, with excellent production values, it was enthusiastically received by capacity audiences in this large auditorium.

Mamma Mia!

By Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Catherine Johnson. St Hilda 's Anglican School. Directed by Sharon Kiely. Joy Shepherd Performing Arts Centre, St Hilda 's Anglican School for Girls, Mosman Park, WA. June 16-17, 2023

St Hilda 's Mamma Mia! was a strong, colourful show, that delighted audiences through its short season. Well directed and performed with excellent production values, it was a worthy showcase of the talents of St Hilda 's students.

The Broadway Junior Shows of Stephen Schwartz

The celebrated composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz has created some of the most beloved musicals of recent times, including

Les Misérables - School Edition

By Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. Directed by Tyler Jones. Judith Cottier Theatre, Perth College, Mt Lawley. Mar 22-25, 2023

Perth College’s Les Misérables - School Edition is an epic production, with around 85 on-stage performers, a large orchestra, with excellent sets and costumes, which is performed with polish, precision and passion.

Puffs

By Matt Cox. Willetton Senior High School. Directed by Stefan Brand. Willetton SHS Auditorium, WA. December 8 & 9, 2022

Puffs, the story of “the other kids” at a certain school for witches and wizards, is a fun story of embracing the outcast within, and is presented with great teamwork and excellent enthusiasm by Willetton Senior High School’s Year 10 Drama Students. Playing multiple characters and embracing the art of group storytelling, this is a well-acted production that is fun for both cast and audience.