Senior Drama – Columbinus

Mr Alex Fowler

Drama Teacher

If 2020 has allowed us anything, it has hopefully allowed us to rediscover truths about our life – both individually and in society, to appreciate the present, understand the power of connection, and that ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘you’ are fragile, yet, so resilient.

The 2020 Senior Co-Curricular drama production of Columbinus - a critical examination of the events surrounding the Columbine High School shootings - offers us, the audience, similar learnings. Columbinus is energy-infused drama that is less angst ridden and more soul searching in its approach –a meeting of fact and fiction that illuminates the realities of adolescent culture and the events that impact our culture. The shootings are incidental to the greater cultural aspects the students represent.

In the words of German theatre practitioner Bertolt Brecht “Art is not a mirror to reflect reality, but a hammer with which to shape it.” If we have learned anything this year, it is often that the force of the hammer is exactly what it takes to create change, and that art is sometimes the best - or only - way to achieve that.

Like art and through Columbinus, the challenges of COVID has the potential to inspire great change. For thousands of years, theatre has attempted to shape and reflect our own human experiences, and help us see them all the clearer. Now more than ever, the world needs art.

COVID has had a crippling affected on the art industry - but theatre as a live art form, especially. Generations of audiences and artists potentially lost. When doors finally reopen, and a new normal is found, I encourage you to to engage or buy a ticket and support the Arts culture. You too can be a part of the change. Year 12 Harry Gates Joel Harrison Wilson Spisich Cameron Vele

Year 11 Cody Wood Saxon Gemeri Patrick Mercer Billy Waker Dane Lehndorf Charlie Chandler