Schools on Stage

HSC Plays at ACA

Image: Twelfth Night. Photographer: Clare Hawley.

Actors Centre Australia has established a new education arm that will present four plays in its inaugural year at the company’s own theatre at Leichardt, in inner-western Sydney.

“We are thrilled to welcome HSC students for an immersive experience, exploring the challenging works that form part of their HSC English Curriculum,” said the ACA’s Head of Acting Adam Cook. 

Mother Courage and Her Children

By Bertolt Brecht and Tony Kushner. Directed by Armani Newton-Lowe, Keira Lilly, Tahlia Padayachee, David Phillips, Annabelle Turner, Tyler Hewitt and Hannah Cooke. Willeton Senior High School, WA. Apr4-5, 2023

Willetton Senior High School’s annual Dinner Theatre is a tradition that showcases the talents of their Year 12 Drama Students and the Year 12 (and 11) Cooking and Hospitality Students. While Brecht is rather an unconventional choice for a dinner theatre, the experience was clearly enjoyed by the audience.

School Performing Arts Resource Kit 2023

The 2023 Stage Whispers School Performing Arts Resource Kit - SPARK - is out now.

The 120 page free on-line magazine includes features on shows suitable for attendance by school students alongside a comprehensive state by state directory.

A major part of the publication comprises features to assist school teachers in choosing a play or musical to perform, features on costume, props and seating, recommendations for Sound, Lighting and Special FX, study resources and training.

Young Australians Have Musical Theatre Experience of a Lifetime

75 lucky young Australians aged between 12 and 18 were chosen to take part in the ‘Super Bowl’ of musical theatre, the Junior Theatre Festival thanks to thanks to Travel Gang and Music Theatre International (Australasia).

Creating the Magic - The 2022 Schools Spectacular

On the 25th and 26th November, four thousand and seven hundred (4,700!) talented arts students from over 200 state schools right across NSW hit the stage to create the magic of  that was the 2022 Schools Spectacular at QDOS Arena. It was an “Extraordinary Magic” that took the audience on a music, dance, acrobatics, puppetry and musical theatre journey that was, in the words of the incredible Mary Poppins Tribute, that concluded the first act, simply … Supercalifragilisticexpialidoious!

Betty Blue Eyes

Perth College

Book by Ron Cowan and Daniel Lipman, Music by George Styles, Lyrics by Anthony Drewe. Directed by Tyler Jones. Judith Cottier Theatre, Perth College, My Lawley, WA. Mar 14-16, 2024

Perth College presented the WA Premiere of the very British musical, Betty Blue Eyes. Beautifully presented, with excellent production values, it was enthusiastically received by capacity audiences in this large auditorium.

Mamma Mia!

By Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Catherine Johnson. St Hilda 's Anglican School. Directed by Sharon Kiely. Joy Shepherd Performing Arts Centre, St Hilda 's Anglican School for Girls, Mosman Park, WA. June 16-17, 2023

St Hilda 's Mamma Mia! was a strong, colourful show, that delighted audiences through its short season. Well directed and performed with excellent production values, it was a worthy showcase of the talents of St Hilda 's students.

The Broadway Junior Shows of Stephen Schwartz

The celebrated composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz has created some of the most beloved musicals of recent times, including

Les Misérables - School Edition

By Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. Directed by Tyler Jones. Judith Cottier Theatre, Perth College, Mt Lawley. Mar 22-25, 2023

Perth College’s Les Misérables - School Edition is an epic production, with around 85 on-stage performers, a large orchestra, with excellent sets and costumes, which is performed with polish, precision and passion.

Puffs

By Matt Cox. Willetton Senior High School. Directed by Stefan Brand. Willetton SHS Auditorium, WA. December 8 & 9, 2022

Puffs, the story of “the other kids” at a certain school for witches and wizards, is a fun story of embracing the outcast within, and is presented with great teamwork and excellent enthusiasm by Willetton Senior High School’s Year 10 Drama Students. Playing multiple characters and embracing the art of group storytelling, this is a well-acted production that is fun for both cast and audience.