Drama

DI FRANCIS

Head of Drama

It has been an exciting year for the Drama Department. The Year 11 Drama class captured the pathos and comedy of new recruits in boot camp in their production of Biloxi Blues by Neil Simon. They performed very well in the senior division of the Gold Coast Secondary Schools’ Drama Festival and were awarded TSS Academic Creative Studies Awards for extending a classassessment task into an excellent full production.

The House Drama Festival, inaugurated in the 1950s, provides opportunities for students to explore their playwriting, directing, acting, technical theatre, leadership and teamwork skills. For those students who display exceptional ability, Goblets for Dramatic Excellence are awarded. Congratulation to Kaiser House for winning the Drama Festival with Khurshed Mehta’s Thirteen Days, which explored the tensions of the Cuban missile crisis.

The Years 9 and 10 Drama Showcase provided the opportunity for parents and family to enjoy the dramatic talents of the junior Drama students. The boys selected scenes ranging in style from comedy to tragedy, from Realism to Monty Python! The evening flowed smoothly and the boys performed polished, exciting scenes. Throughout the year the Drama classes attended a range of professional productions, exposing them to contemporary staging techniques and various styles of theatre from Realism to Physical Theatre. As part of the Drama syllabus, students complete analytical Responding Tasks for assessment reflecting on the plays they have seen. At the Gold Coast Arts Centre they saw a powerful production of Kelly by Matthew Ryan, performed by the QLD Theatre Company. Dracula was a popular excursion to Brisbane’s Cremorne Theatre and the Drama students joined Year 8 to view The Apology, a physically demanding two-man show dealing with the long-term effects of bullying.

The year ended with junior Drama classes attending Stage Make-Up workshops, learning from an expert the skills of creating ‘bloody’ cuts using wax and fake blood. Once again boys delighted in scaring their parents with their injuries.

Throughout the year The TSS Theatre Crew has supported numerous events and productions in both the Annand Theatre and the Drama Studio. Their dedication and skill is truly appreciated.