At the end of last term, I was involved in a Staff vs Student debate as part of ‘Teacher Appreciation Week’. During the debate, I spoke briefly of my passion for performance. A couple of days later, one of my students asked me to explain why I love theatre so much in thirty words or less.

I answered that it was unique and highly experiential, making it a difficult question to answer. Nevertheless, I thought I would try to meet her challenge in this forum. Theatre is a live, tangible and thrilling communication of the human condition. It’s a collaborative and shared experience. It’s another world – literally. It’s boundless, empathetic, inclusive, powerful and necessary. That’s thirty. Count them if you like.

Many believe that the magic of a show happens in performance, but I know it is well before a show even reaches the stage that we see the magic at work. We have only just begun rehearsing the Years 7 and 8 Musical, Honk! Jr. and I have already seen some wonderful moments of creativity and inspiration.

The members of the cast have taken to their parts like a duck to water, collaborating with one another to imagine different ways to present their characters. From the beginnings of their character work across the three tenets of musical theatre – song, dance and action – I can already tell that audiences are in for a treat when we hit the stage at the end of October. Next time a student poses a question like the one above, I will simply invite them to sit in on a rehearsal. Tickets for Honk! Jr. go on sale at the end of Term 3. Make sure you watch this space!

As Mrs Jenny Mathers mentioned in this publication a couple of weeks ago, our annual Gala Concert is fast approaching. We are returning to the Melbourne Recital Centre on 1 September for an entertaining evening of music based on the theme ‘Fact or Fiction’. It will feature performances of ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’, ‘Zadok the Priest’, and finish with a medley of songs from James Bond films. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased here.  Book early to avoid disappointment.

Mr James Brown, Head of Performing Arts