Dining Room

A group of students pose in front of colourful vertical stripes behind a bright yellow table. The poster reads “The Dining Room,” advertising a Year 11 drama play on 27 March 2024 at IGS Commedia Playhouse.

Year 11 Drama performed their first public assessment task for an audience of family and friends last Friday evening in the Commedia Playhouse. It was a joyous event and students played multiple roles across various time periods. They also created costumes and program designs, which were showcased in the Dramatic Arts Centre. For some, this was their first public performance, while for others it was an extension of their experience of the craft. 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.

Ms Morabito

Four people wearing party hats sit at a wooden table with serviettes tucked into their collars, looking to the left. Colourful cups and plates are on the table, and the background is a dark stage curtain.

A young woman in a black dress with red polka dots and a young man in a bright blue jacket stand on stage, looking at each other under dramatic lighting, with a table and teacup visible in the background.

A young woman with long plaits wearing a vintage floral dress stands on stage, clutching her dress and smiling widely, with a dark background behind her.

Two young people stand on stage in dramatic lighting; the girl wears a pale pink dress and is speaking or singing, whilst the boy beside her wears a shiny silver shirt and black trousers, looking slightly to the side.

Seven people stand on a stage in dramatic poses, appearing to be in the middle of a theatrical performance. Five are in front having an animated conversation, whilst two stand behind them near a table, all wearing varied costumes.

Three women are on stage: one in a maid uniform pours water beside a woman in green typing on a typewriter, while another in a dressing gown sits at the table reading a newspaper. The background is black.

Four young people in colourful costumes enthusiastically dance and jump on stage in front of a table with cups and a birthday cake. The background is dark with a spotlight highlighting their playful movements.

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 by A. R Gurney 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.

Love from the Year 12 Drama cohort

Three people stand on stage in bright costumes, including floral shirts and headscarves, with a wooden table and chairs behind them. They appear to be performing in a play, looking offstage with expressive poses.

A young man in a patterned jumper stands in the foreground, speaking passionately, while a young woman in a white spotted dress stands behind him, looking sad. They are on a stage with a table and chairs in the background.

A young woman with long brown hair, wearing a sleeveless black dress with pink and white floral patterns, holds a champagne glass and gestures whilst speaking on a stage with dark curtains in the background.

Two young women in dresses stand facing each other on stage, appearing tense and emotional. A wooden table and two stools are in the background, and the lighting emphasises their expressions against a dark backdrop.

Four young people in formal clothing stand together on stage. One person in a pink ruffled blouse holds a bag and looks away whilst another in black comforts them, arm round their shoulders. Two others stand close by, watching.

Two young women are on stage. One is taking a photo with a camera, wearing a headband and jeans. The other, in a long floral dress, stands by a wooden table set with cups and a teapot, with a black backdrop behind them.

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. Fin

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. Ivy

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. Elliot

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 challnging part of the process. Ryder

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