for a junior production, as well as continuing to champion Shakespeare, Theatresports and all things makeup. Wardrobe Convenor Philippa Dye facilitated and created costumes for a multitude of productions, casting her magic across all aspects of wardrobe. Executive Principal Garth Wynne acknowledged the increasing workload of our department when he approved the creation of new role for a drama gap student. Bradley Fulcher from South Africa immediately became a key member of our team. He was a dedicated young man who got on with the many tasks he was entrusted without supervision and who was willing, flexible, altruistic, empathetic and caring. Bradley won universal respect as he trod the gap between staff and students, making perceptive observations about classroom dynamics. Because he understood theatre processes, frustrations and deadlines, he was able to mentor students in class work, assist House Play directors, and provide tireless support for staff at critical times. We will miss him and wish him well as he starts his chemical engineering degree at Pretoria University. College drama teachers strive to provide high quality drama teaching as a curriculum entitlement and high quality theatre experiences as a cultural entitlement for our boys. We also continue the battle for time for our boys to do all this in a school where academic study is “first among equals”, there is compulsory sport most days, and an increasing number of incursions by new initiatives. Drama, through strong advocacy, maintains and reclaims its place. Our legitimacy and endurance is due in no small measure to the investment and status endowed by the foresight, construction and legacy of the Old Boys’ Theatre. We look forward to the 20th anniversary of the OBT in 2020.
Welcome changes to curriculum delivery were seized upon at course selection time, and 38 Year 9 boys have chosen the new Year 10 drama option for 2020. We have two Year 11 and Year 13 classes for 2020, and the Year 12 class is bursting! We must be doing something right. Boys, parents and employers value the inclusion of drama in a holistic education – and the characteristics, dispositions and aspirations of the ideal College graduate are at the forefront of everything we do. In the last 12 months, thousands of people have enjoyed our shows. The Frogs and High School Musical 2 (our co-production with Rangi Ruru Girls’ School) were exuberant comedies that gave younger boys the chance to shine. Our junior drama scholarship holders – Daniel Bridgman, Joel Fulford, William Olsson and Ryan Primus – all featured amongst talented company. Our Playing with Fire series of The Arsonists and Lord of the Flies challenged senior boys and their audiences to consider deadly consequences of maladjusted societal behaviours. This was made all the more poignant by the horrendous terrorist attack in Christchurch on Friday 15 March. Other boys took the spotlight in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival,
the Court Theatre’s Theatresports in Schools competition, and the Reaction House Plays Festival. A large group travelled to Auckland to visit the Pop-up Globe and be tutored by Old Boy Ed Bijl, as well as see the National Theatre of Great Britain’s stunning production of War Horse . Our big-hearted boys in the arts are a restless lot, always looking for new ways to expand their horizons. In Term 4, the Dare To Be Remarkable performance of senior devised drama demonstrated creative originality and an understanding of the power of combining conventions and skills for expressive, often provocative meaning. Our Year 11 boys created compelling devised drama Hey Man! thanks to a generous gift from the Rolleston family and the work of Court Theatre tutors Phoebe Hurst and Ben Freeth. To top it all off, the combined drama and music faculties of College and Rangi Ruru worked on pre-audition training in preparation for the 2020 senior production of Evita . In staff news, Assistant Director of Drama Robyn Peers took over management of our speech and drama gurus Tomascita Edgerton and Tania McVicar. Grant Bennett’s role was redefined as Performing Arts and Events Technician. Nikki Bleyendaal took responsibility
David Chambers Director of Drama
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Register 2019 Culture
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