Keystone Magazine Learning the Keystone Way 2015-2016 EN | Page 74

Beyond The Classroom
Theatre
Brought
to Life:
ISTA High School Festival
O
ver 80 students from nine inter-
national schools in China and
other countries, 10 professional
theatre artists, trainers and edu-
cators, three creatively exciting
high-energy days, and one lo-
cation – this is a sure-shot recipe for the most
rewarding theatre festival any student could
attend. Keystone Academy hosted this exhilarat-
ing group in association with the International
Schools Theatre Association (ISTA) from 4th to 6th
of March, 2016. The ISTA festival at Keystone was
for high school students focused on the theme,
‘Bringing to Life.’
Not Just Theatrics!
The theme conceptualized by Keystone middle
and high school Drama teacher and founding
Director of the Performing Arts Center, Chloe Kel-
ler, was a fully integrated festival – the first of its
kind – that concentrated on using all aspects of
technical theatre to bring a story to life on stage.
Ms. Keller explains: “In theatre, the public focuses
on the actors. However, the real heroes in theatre
are the technicians who run the lights and sound,
design, and build the sets and make the actors
look good. When I was a professional actor, we
were referred to as “the Talent,” so out of respect,
I always refer to the men and women behind the
scenes as the Gods. They build the ground upon
which we stand, they light our skies, and they fill
our atmosphere with sound. They bring theatre
to life.”
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