When Leo interviewed Annette…

Mrs Annette Curran is the Head of Drama at the Grimwade House campus of Melbourne Grammar School. Drama is studied by all students at Grimwade House. As well as teaching weekly lessons, Mrs Curran produces and directs various musicals and productions throughout the year.

Here she is interviewed by Year 6 student Leo Marchesani.

What do you love most about your job at Grimwade House?

The children, and all the opportunities that Drama brings to them. The fact that there is a weekly Drama lesson is such a special thing that not many schools provide so the fact that I get to mentor and work with students in this capacity is meaningful and exciting.

What do you think are the most important things a student gains from studying Drama in their primary school years?

For me, it's about developing their emotional intelligence. We're lucky at Grimwade House that we teach about zones of regulation through our CARE program. In Drama, it's about complementing that knowledge and skills that the students are already developing. If we can understand how a character is feeling and might manage a situation, we can apply that to ourselves. Hopefully this will lead to a cohort of students that, as adults, are good people doing good things in our world.

If we asked any of the students to describe you in three words, what words do you think they would use and why?

Definitely ‘loud’, because it is the only volume I have.

I would like to think the students would also say ‘fun’ because of our Drama games. And I think that's just who I am, fun and bubbly.

If it’s describing me as a teacher, it's about me having high expectations. To be able to produce a successful performance, high expectations need to be there not only for myself, but all our performers.

Drama is of vital importance in the primary school as it helps students regulate and evolve their emotional intelligence. Mrs Curran, you are the driving force of an engaging and vibrant Drama curriculum at Grimwade House. It has been an incredibly important aspect of my primary school education and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunities presented to me. Thank you!