Drama

2021 was a year that proved the incredible creativity and resilience of our Drama students and teachers. Our faculty strives to provide opportunities for students to express their ideas creatively, develop curiosity about the world around them, think imaginatively and independently, and take risks; all while having fun. I’m proud to say that both our teachers and students rose to this challenge and exceeded all expectations in both online and face-to-face learning this year. Term 1 started with the Year 10 Bell Shakespeare Artist in Residence Program. We celebrated 10 years of working with actor and director Christopher Tomkinson from Bell Shakespeare. Throughout the week, a series of workshops allowed our students to delve into the complex world of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Their hard work culminated in a highly engaging performance at the end of the week. Audiences joined us both online and in the Drama Space to delight in the talents of our Year 10 students.

This year also saw the success of our Intermediate and Senior Theatre Sports program. Students in Years 9-11 participated in Theatre Sports after school under the guidance of Ms. Hannah Montgomery. It was a joy to watch these students create engaging, funny performances completely on the spot! A big congratulations to our Intermediate Theatre Sports team who made it to the regional Semi-Finals of the School’s Theatre Sports Challenge. This team was comprised of Tahlia Moses, Gabrielle Benson, Eloise Rose-Helbert, Lauren Lawer and Bella Kachel. Tahlia has written the following about her experience in this extra-curricular activity: “We were all nervous joining a new activity, and didn’t know what to expect, but we soon found how easy it was to work together as a team and we were able to find a passion for performance and drama thanks to our supportive peers and drama teachers here at Loreto. We were ecstatic when we made the Semi Finals!”

“These students never stopped supporting one another so that everyone was able to achieve their very best.”

Year 5-11 students also came together to audition and rehearse for Matilda Jnr. It was a joy-filled process that highlighted just how much talent and skill exists at Loreto! Rehearsals commenced in Term 2 and continued online in Term 3. We are very much hoping to stage this show in 2022. Watch this space - there is a lot of talent and potential here. Online learning did not stop the creativity of our Drama students from Years 8-12. Year 8 created a range of outstanding short films. Year 9 examined their family culture and the culture of our First Nations peoples, sharing their learning through monologues and group performances. Year 10 presented a range of outstanding Research Projects, Scripts and Performances that explored how theatre can be a powerful tool for change in our society; and Year 11 used the techniques of Theatre De Complicite to develop their playful and thought provoking online group performances. A special mention must be given to our Year 12 students who, despite the many challenges they faced, created exemplary Group and Individual Projects and continued with online learning with focus and commitment. These students never stopped supporting one another so that everyone was able to achieve their very best. A big congratulations to Charlotte Cluff, whose Research Project was selected for the OnStage exhibition and to the following students who will also perform their Group Performance, The Broom-ettes, in this showcase at the Seymour Centre in February 2022: Thea Whittaker, Sally Kearins, Harriette Feilen, Eliza Carolan and Erin Longney. We were able to end this year with a little bit of live theatre in our Drama Space. Year 9 students performed a short play named ‘Dreams’ for their peers. It was wonderful to watch our students work together and hear applause once more in our classroom. Congratulations Year 9 on your hard work and for bringing live theatre back to our school!

Ms Anna-lea Russo Head of Drama

Drama helps me to build confidence and is very fun.

– Leah, Year 8

There was never a dull moment in our Drama class. At the beginning of the year, we were all shy, afraid to come out of our shells and petrified of what our classmates might think. But as the year progressed, we started becoming more comfortable in the Drama space. Soon enough, we were dancing around the stage like elephants, transforming into cranky old characters like Pantalone, and embodying each and every one of our characters in the play Dreams. If you are in Year 7 or 8, and are considering doing Drama in Year 9, I can say with complete confidence that you won’t regret it, and you will make memories that will last a lifetime.

– Hannah, Year 9

I loved how Drama helped me with Public Speaking, as well as being able to work easily with groups of girls who I am not normally friends with.

– Chelsea, Year 10

Drama as a subject focuses on the skills of creativity and adaptability. These have come to the fore in 2021! Of course, they have been evident while learning online but across the year students have excelled in working collaboratively towards a common goal. From Clowning to Commedia Dell’arte, from script work to improvisation, there has been an incredible amount of Felicity demonstrated by all!

– Amy Perry, Drama Teacher

Teaching Drama at Loreto is such a gift and this year has been no different. Although teaching Drama online had its challenges, it was so great to witness students come together in their learning and adapt. Their resilience amid the unknown and continued enthusiasm for Drama was infectious… excuse the pun!

– Casey Scoines, Drama Teacher

You can be 100% yourself in every Drama lesson.

– Mia, Year 10