On Wednesday 29 April, 68 Drama students from Years 9 to 12 travelled to the Roslyn Packer Theatre to see My Brilliant Career – a new musical based on the novel by Miles Franklin and adapted by Sheridan Harbridge and Dean Bryant.
The show was described by Director of Dramatic Arts Rita Morabito as “a joyous celebration of the choices that are hard fought for to become who we are meant to be.” Students were deeply engaged throughout, cheering, offering a standing ovation and asking incisive questions during the post-show debrief with the cast.
For Year 9 students, this excursion marked their first experience of the School’s Day theatre program. For Year 12, it was one of their final shared theatre visits as IGS Drama students – a fitting and memorable way to reflect on storytelling, performance craft and the power of live theatre.
The communal energy of the day lingered even after the curtain fell. In the theatre foyer, Year 12 student Brooke sat at the piano and began to play, with classmates gathering around. It was a moment that captured the spirit of the excursion: no one was quite ready to leave the shared creative buzz the performance had sparked.
Students reflected thoughtfully on what they had seen:
“I enjoyed how the performers switched between chorus roles, characters and orchestral roles which made a collaborative ensemble”. – Aaliyah, Year 9
“I liked how colours were used through the lighting, costumes and set to create a mood and atmosphere.” – Maria, Year 9
“I liked how they were able to use music to enhance the storytelling and entertainment.” – Aggy, Year 9
“My Brilliant Career was an inspiring show, blending acting, music and dance together to tell the story of Sybylla, a female Australian writer fighting the social constraints of the 19th century. The cast were exceptionally talented, switching between many roles and playing instruments on stage. In the show, I particularly liked the lighting design in the finale number, where the sun set on Sybylla, leaving her backlit by a galaxy of stars as she claimed her independence and embarked on her career as a writer.” – Alice R, Year 11
“The production quality was amazing and I found the set design to be especially captivating due to its ability to connect and portray the original setting of the farm as well as take on so many other settings despite having minimal prop use. The lighting and acting elevated the changes in time and place and the underlying sound within the music was unique and distinctive.” – Tilly, Year 11
“My Brilliant Career was a great and fun way to deliver serious messages about feminism and equality through a colourful, entertaining and wholly entertaining musical medium.” – Tailtiu, Year 11
“The way that the whole cast comes together in many different ways including acting, dancing, singing and playing instruments makes this play something unlike anything I’ve ever seen.” – Ned, Year 11
“I loved how there were so many different genres of music within the musical. The way the actors moved the story over time with the sets and props. I would 100% recommend people to go see it.” – Ingrid, Year 11
“My Brilliant Career was an excellent musical that challenges you to understand the underlying issues women in the 1890’s faced.” – Layla, Year 11
“I felt it effectively portrayed the internal struggles and thought processes people experience when striving to overcome challenges and improve their circumstances.” – Stella, Year 11
“My Brilliant Career felt like a genuine journey, following the mind of a passionate young girl, subverting societal norms and creating so many laughs on the way. All while the skilled actors sang, danced and played instruments, sometimes all at once.” – Elin, Year 11
“My Brilliant Career was a unique piece of musical theatre that discusses multiple themes, such as self-discovery throughout the piece. The musical was superb with a distinct set design, memorable characters and catchy songs, leading to a very positive experience.” – Ryder, Year 11
“The musical tells an important story of feminism, told alongside hysterically comedic moments and epic musical numbers that leave the audience with goosebumps. My Brilliant Career: The Musical is a show definitely worth seeing, especially for aspiring young women.” – Ivy Wilkes
Through inventive staging, dynamic performances and powerful themes of identity, equality and self-determination, My Brilliant Career offered students not only an engaging theatre experience but a meaningful opportunity to see how classic Australian literature can be reinterpreted for contemporary audiences.
Thank you to Rita Morabito for organising this rich learning experience and continuing to create opportunities for IGS Drama students to engage with professional theatre at the highest level.
