Last Friday evening, the Dramatic Arts Centre came alive as Year 11 Drama students presented their first public assessment performance of The Dining Room by A. R. Gurney to an audience of family and friends in the Commedia Playhouse.
The performance marked an important milestone for the cohort. For some students, it was their first time stepping onto a stage before a live audience, for others, it was an opportunity to deepen their experience and extend their craft. In addition to performing, students designed and created their own costumes and program materials, which were proudly displayed throughout the space, offering guests a fuller insight into the creative process behind the production.
Ms Morabito reflected on the evening with pride, “It was a joyous event and students played multiple roles across various time periods. All students learnt a great deal about character creation, ensemble work and responsibility to the team to bring a full play to performance level. Bravo Year 11 Drama!!
Thank you also to Year 12 Drama students who stepped up to assist with technical, rehearsal and warm-up work. It was a joy to see you in action.”
A special feature of the production was the mentorship and support provided by the Year 12 Drama cohort, who had performed the same play the previous year. Their involvement behind the scenes and during rehearsals created a strong sense of continuity and collaboration across year groups.
The Year 12 students shared, “It was a pleasure to see the Year 11s embody the characters we had so lovingly inhabited the year before. Their production of The Dining Room brought the play to life with such joy and unique interpretations that expanded the world of the play beyond our initial interpretations. The contrast between wounded father Standish, the flirtatious divorcée and the gaggle of rogue little children highlighted the diverse acting capabilities of these emerging actors, taking the audience on a profound journey through time. As senior students, we banded together to give feedback and push the students to their greatest potential, running classic over-the-top warm-ups to get the energy flowing. We employed various tactics to see them light up the stage, drastically improving from their earlier runs to their stage debut for an audience.
A massive congratulations to Year 11 and good luck with all your future endeavours.”
For the performers themselves, the experience was as rewarding as it was challenging.
Fin reflected on the collaborative nature of the production, “The best part was being part of the production as a whole. I really enjoyed working with the people in the Standish scene and building our dynamic together. Performing as a group and seeing everything come together on the night was very rewarding.”
Ivy valued the opportunity to explore characters from another era, “I enjoyed stepping into characters that were from a different time period than I am, and making my own acting choices based on my interpretation of the characters.”
Elliot noted the challenge of managing multiple roles, “I learnt how to portray several characters within one performance, and I improved my ability to understand the subtext of a scene which I didn’t write.”
Ryder described the personal growth that came with the process, “The best part of this experience was getting outside my comfort zone. Working hard every day and learning new ways to act was very enjoyable and useful for my future studies in Drama. Learning what my character’s intentions were, not just what I had to say but why I was saying it was a challenging part of the process.”
The evening was not only a showcase of performance, but a celebration of ensemble work, character creation and the responsibility each student carried in bringing a full play to performance level. Supported by their teachers and peers, Year 11 Drama delivered a memorable production that demonstrated both their developing skills and their commitment to the craft.
