The Ignatian - December 2016 Vol 26 July Edition Vol 27 | Page 25

Performing Arts
Drama
This year has been a remarkable one so far for Drama at Riverview, with
exemplary performance work, opportunities to view vibrant new theatre
productions and visiting professional theatre directors to the College who
provided workshops in specialised skills for all Elective Drama boys.
One of the highlights of the year so far was seeing our very own Riverview
Drama graduates from 2016 performing on stage. One of our Year 12
HSC Group Performances from the 2016 Drama Cohort was selected to
participate in the prestigious ‘Onstage’ Showcase presented by BOSTES.
Chosen from over 5000 drama students across NSW, this honour is an
incredible reflection of the outstanding results of all the Drama boys
from 2016. The piece entitled “Farmers in Action” was performed by Zac
Roddy, Edward Lindsay, Logan Wilson, Benjamin Legrand and Matthew
McElroy. The boys’ performance piece resonated passionately with our
Riverview audience through the narrative of the defilement of Australia's
agricultural fertility through Coal Seam Gas projects.
Viewing live theatre productions is an important part of the Curriculum
Drama syllabus and is always reflected in the high standard of
performance work currently at the College. One such visit this year was
the Year 11 Elective Drama visit to Riverside Theatre, where they enjoyed
the Gothic Horror interpretation of Dracula by Shake and Stir Theatre
Company. The boys were thoroughly entertained and inspired by this
remarkable adaptation and brilliantly executed play.
Our 2017 Co-curricular Theatresports Competitions and Drama
productions have had students and audiences excited with a variety of
theatrical experiences. The year began with the Years 9-12 Theatresports
Competition where over 50 students competed for the prized Intermediate
and Senior Pauline Cain Cups. Following on, two Year 8 One Act plays
were performed to much acclaim: Monty Python Presents… Live at Riverview
and Shuddersome: Tales of Poe. We then travelled into the backyard for the
Year 12 performance, The Landscape of Australian Voices, an amalgamation
showcasing a variety of Australian poems, songs and plays. Finally, we
ended the semester with the Year 11 students performing the epic fantasy
Narnia in June.
There is much to celebrate and acknowledge in Drama in the first half of
this year. We are truly blessed with a richness of talent and enthusiasm
for performing on stage at Riverview. The Drama Department is looking
forward to another exciting semester ahead.
L O U IS E A R N O T T, H E A D O F D R A M A
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