Performing and Creative Arts

Performing & Creative Arts

Creative Arts Creative Arts at PLC has continued to thrive and highlight its signifi cant contribution to the diverse curriculum opportunities provided by the school. The strength of talent supported by staff has culminated in some outstanding achievements and placed PLC Visual Arts in the top 15 schools in Western Australia. Three Year 12 Visual Arts students had their artwork selected for the Pulse Perspectives Exhibition under the guidance of Ms Hilde Apel and Ms Katherine Young:

Sarah Hill (WACE) with her porcelain sculpture ‘Pointed Home’ (pictured). Hunter Smith (WACE) with her expressive landscape painting of Kalbarri titled ‘Kalbarri sub-section study in pink and red’. Victoria Walford (WACE) with her chicken sculptures ‘Humanities Puppets’. The annual Creative Arts and Technology Exhibition ‘Frame of Mind’ showcased works by Years 7 to 12 students across all Creative Arts and Technology subject areas. The exhibition included a diverse range of works from Visual Arts, Textiles, Materials (Wood and Metals), Technology and Design Courses. Materials Design and Technology (Textiles), under the supervision of Chris Robinson, has reinforced the signifi cant contribution Creative Arts makes with six of nine students pursuing tertiary courses in Fashion and Design.

Drama

As part of the Year 12 WACE Drama and IB Theatre course, students study theatrical style of Theatre of the Absurd. Therefore, the Year 12 Drama and Theatre students performed three Theatre of the Absurd one-act plays under the title of Boom, Bang Bust. Students had to apply their knowledge of clowning, melodrama and physical theatre to create a very entertaining programme. Robert Kelly created three diff erent sets for each one-act play, and he worked with the element of infl atables – a fi ve-metre army tank, a room (walls and ceiling) with infl atable mattresses and pool infl atables.

2019 saw the fi rst combined PLC and Scotch College musical. PLC’s Performing Arts Departments decided to bring back a little bit of 1980’s nostalgia with Footloose. This musical showcased the best of PLC and Scotch College’s talent. Patrice Smith, the choreographer, created dance numbers based on popular American dance styles and Anne Coughlan, the musical director, ensured audiences are entertained by country, rock and pop songs. This musical stood the test of time, and audiences were enthralled, moved and entertained.

In Term 4 the Drama Department performed an abridged version of Shakespeare’s The Tempest (pictured). The actors were Year 7 to Year 10 students, and they created a physical interpretation of this classic text. Director, Oliver Craze, created a visually spectacular production with atmospheric sound and music.

Dance

A highlight on the PLC Arts calendar is undoubtedly the Dance Showcase, and this year’s performance was titled Endeavour. This show went beyond the stage and recognised the time, strength, endurance, grit, pain and sweat that is behind a performance and a part of every dancer’s life. It celebrated the commitment, tenacity and internal fortitude every dancer needs as they give every part of themselves both physically and creatively. The showcase was a product of the creative work of many talented individuals who collaborated to provide a spectacular evening of dance. Choreographers, designers, staff , parents and students have all given their time and talents to showcase the dancers of PLC.

In 2019, alongside the existing auditioned Dance programmes, we started up a new non-auditioned co-curricular programme, Dance Club. This provided even more opportunity for girls to be involved in dance at PLC and develop their love for the artform whilst continuing to also develop their technique.

PLC dance programmes prepare students well for further dance study as evidenced with Meghan Henschel (Year 11) accepted into the CO:3 Youth Elite Training Squad and to the Propel Dance Course at WAAPA. Tara Rogers (Year 10) was also accepted to the CO:3 Youth Elite Training Squad. The Quarry Amphitheatre once again played host to the annual Proms Concert which featured many of our talented music students. Following this event, Stephanie Hair (Year 11), Lucy Jarrett (Year 12), Aurelia Qaqish (Year 5) and members of the School’s SNAP String Quartet and Piano Trio drew an appreciative audience during a Lunchtime Recital at St George’s Cathedral. Our Pipe Bands continued to serve the wider community through performances at Vyner Brooke Memorial Service, Wembley Fair and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk while the Senior Pipe Band once again marched in the City of Perth’s ANZAC Day Parade. In Term 2, the Junior School Winter Concert celebrated many of our up and coming musicians including our Suzuki Strings, Petite Chorale and young Band students. Students were also featured in our two Piano Recitals and Vocal Recital.

In Term 3, a number of PLC ensembles performed for the annual ABODA Festival and each received positive feedback from the adjudicators. Year 11 IB and ATAR students performed their assessed solo repertoire at a public recital hosted by Scotch College and Year 12 students performed confi dently in their external practical exams. Open Garden Day provided a beautiful setting for some stunning musical performances by our girls and the music presented at Speech Night was spectacular!

Music played an important role in some signifi cant School events throughout 2019 including the commissioning of our new Chaplain and Principal. Assemblies and Chapel services also continued to provide a wonderful opportunity to highlight our musical students. We are grateful for the contribution made by the Year 12 music students of 2019 and look forward to overseeing the musical growth of all involved in 2020.