A Musical Town Like Alice
In the outback town of Alice Springs, a husband-and-wife team have just notched up their 25th consecutive year of producing school musicals – uninterrupted even by Covid. Jill Janson reports.
Steve Kidd produces and directs, and Kristina Kidd designs and makes the costumes, props and sets. For a quarter of a century, they have been passionate about providing a quality performing arts experience for the students of St Phillip’s College Alice Springs.
With the average cast size being around 60 to 80 students, both onstage, in the band and behind the scenes, that’s around 2000 students who have had the exciting experience of being part of a St Philip’s musical production. Steve also mentors a Performing Arts Assistant every year, teaching them the finer details that go into producing theatre on all levels.
A NIDA acting graduate, Steve spent 20 years in the professional theatre industry performing in shows such as the Australian premiere of Assassins for MTC, the national touring stage production of Bran Nue Dae, and the world premiere of Only Heaven Knows.
The couple moved to Alice Springs from their hometown of Melbourne in 2000 with their young family when Steve started a new career as a teacher of Drama and Head of Performing Arts at St Philip’s College.
His experience of directing plays and musicals for the community theatre scene in Melbourne and Geelong was put to good use in his first year at the college, mounting a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with over 80 keen students in the cast and crew. Twenty-five years later these productions have become a much-anticipated event for the whole town.
He has made such a huge impact on students that in 2024 Steve was awarded an OAM for his dedication to theatre and education. With his equally talented wife, Kristina (who trained as a dancer and singer and worked in touring music theatre shows during the 1980s) by his side, the two have instilled their passion for theatre and performing arts education into their students, some of whom have gone on to pursue careers both on and off stage.
“We’ve been married 36 years,” says Kristina, “And have always lived, worked and played together – basically all things theatre, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. You can imagine the ‘pillow talk’ that has gone on over the years in our bedroom when we are in full theatre production mode!”
So popular is music theatre at the college, that local primary school students are known to beg their parents to be enrolled at St Philips. Steve has created a special Creative Arts – Musical curriculum subject for the senior St Philip’s students in Years 10, 11 and 12, so they can hone the skills needed to prepare for a role, either on or off-stage. Part of their assessment is to pitch shows they would like to see the College present, considering student talent, performance rights, the College venue and if it’s appropriate for local audiences.
“Having the skills of being a ‘triple threat’ is a great starting point. But we also teach the students how best to affect an audience, the etiquette of being a performer on and off stage and the importance of being able to audition successfully,” says Steve. “We also work on the premise that showing commitment and working hard as part of a team can bring them future rewards.”
2024 Year 12 drama student, Matilda Loader, says, “Mr Kidd has played a huge role in my performing arts journey. He has guided me and many others into being their best creative artist, pushing our skills to be far more than where we started. Mr Kidd has been a major inspiration and we’re extremely lucky to have him as a teacher.”
Senior performing arts students have often filled the roles of lighting design, sound operation and stage management, while senior music students can be found in the pit playing for the musical band.
Many are now saying – here’s to the next 25, but Steve and Kris say, “We’ve had enough!” and are looking forward to an extended intermission, before they begin the next exciting act in their own personal production.
