Drama

On Tuesday the 7th of February, the Year 12 Drama Cohort took part in an excursion to the Seymour Centre. This wonderful opportunity took place over the course of the afternoon and ran into the evening, wherein, the Year 12’s were joined by the Year 11 Drama Cohort. It was an extravagant day filled to the brim with opportunities for the students to see real Drama in action beyond the scope of the classroom.

This excursion consisted of two parts; a Group Ensemble Workshop and OnStage 2023. 

The Year 12’s started with the Group Ensemble Workshop taking place early in the afternoon. It was a three hour workshop run by the professional acting troupe known as The Little Eggs Collective and hosted by the Seymour Centre. The Little Eggs Collective are known for creating powerful and compelling performances through a variety of artistic, dramatic mediums. They are also experts in holding workshops focused around helping students devise and create original pieces of drama.

With the guidance of these professionals, the students gained insight into the various skills needed to succeed in the HSC Group Performance. They had the opportunity not only to act alongside their peers, but seasoned actors as well. However, the most valuable lesson that the students took away was the level of dedication and trust needed to succeed within an ensemble piece. 

Following this fantastic experience, the Year 12’s and Mr Lewandowski were joined by Ms Rujicica and the Year 11 Drama Cohort. Demonstrating their clear dedication to learning and Drama, the Senior Drama Cohort united for the evening session of OnStage.  

OnStage is an event focused around showcasing the best HSC Drama Individual Projects and Group Performances from the previous year. Drama at a Senior level is not just about the performance but all of the various elements that build a production. The Senior Drama Cohort had the opportunity to see all the possibilities for their Major Works. This included Lighting Design, Stagecraft, Video Drama, Costume Design and Critical Analysis. 

The enthusiastic students were amazed at the quality of the works that had been put before them. To quote one of the Year 12 students: “It was eye-opening to see what those students were capable of.” The performances were funny, captivating, enthralling, haunting but, above all else, a challenge put forth towards them. A challenge to know that students, who were once in a similar position, had risen to the occasion through hard work, patience and time. 

This marks the beginning of a year of opportunities for Drama at St Andrews College. After great success last year, our Theatresports program continues to provide opportunities for students to grow both as performers and as confident individuals. Keep an eye out over the upcoming weeks as we continue to work with the other CAPA departments and provide opportunities for our students to excel.

Mr Nick Lewandowski

Drama Teacher