Puffs Or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic

By Matt Cox. St Mark’s Anglican Community School. Directed by Chris McRae. Barbara Godwin Performing Arts Complex, St Mark’s Anglican Community School, Hillarys, WA. Oct 29-30, 2025

This very fun Harry Potter parody was presented by Year 10 Drama Students from St Mark’s Anglican Community School, Hillarys, for a very short season. Clearly enjoyed by the cast, the students embraced the pacy script with enthusiasm.

Audiences entered the foyer to find it highly decorated with Harry Potter and Hufflepuff Merchandise, a great way to ease people into the theme. I loved the use of Lego builds and the opportunity to take photos against a Hogwarts backdrop with some great wizard themed props. Puffs looks at what it would be like to be a student at a certain school of Wizardry, during the Harry Potter years, and is a tribute to anyone not destined to save the world.

The set is simple, but well chosen, with a strong lighting design by Sam Petit. The production uses the original sound design by creator Matt Cox, augmented by Director Chris McRae, whose Wizard Radio Show played at interval is a great touch.

The cast have a good sense of unity, which is important given the show’s themes of friendship and teamwork within the Puffs. I would love for this group to work on diction and projection, as, presumably in an effort to maintain pace, dialogue was often delivered too fast and was gabbled or inaudible. Concentrate on eliminating the space between lines rather than racing the lines themselves.

Alyssa Neil, onstage throughout, played the large and important role of the Narrator. Saskia Kluver anchored the show nicely as central character Wayna. Like the famous Harry Potter trio, Puffs has a central threesome, with Elise Wilkinson embracing her inner goth as the sullen and out-of-place Megan, and Olivia Murphy nicely playing muggle born maths geek Oliver.

The remaining cast all play multiple characters. Foremost in this group, Blake Carter stood out as Puffs “Golden Boy” Cedric, treading a fine line between handsome and beloved hero and incompetent schoolboy, in a delightful performance. In Act Two he played the very different and evil Mr. Voldy, acing the role in an incongruous blue swimming cap.

Kurtis Worth gave a lovely laid-back portrayal of Ernie Mac, among others, Makalia Smith embraced the bullied and quiet Hannah, while Mila Simpson played the offbeat J Finch with panache. I particularly enjoyed Lara Paddock’s awkward Leanne and felt her loss greatly, and ‘enjoyed’ (if that is the correct word) Cara Kennedy’s death scene as House Elf Bippy. Cara Bennet was a lovely look-alike Harry Potter, with good presence, Emily Prestage had a great fall from power as Voldy Follower and worst-parent-around Xavia Jones, Mackenzie Lyon was a solid Susie Bones, while Stella Chipchase was kept very busy playing no less than 13 distinct characters.

Hoping that the bulk of this cohort will continue their theatrical journey into Senior School. I look forward to seeing their progress as performers.

Kimberley Shaw