From the Drama Department
From the Drama Department
Drama Coordinator
Drama Students Take to the State Theatre
Our Year 10 and 11 Drama students recently swapped the classroom for the stalls, heading into the city for an excursion to see Commentary at the State Theatre Company of South Australia.
For students studying acting and devised drama this semester, the trip offered something no textbook can: the chance to watch professional performers at work and see, up close, how the techniques they’ve been building in class translate into a fully realised production. Commentary gave the group plenty to unpack, from its use of physicality and ensemble storytelling to the way the production changed location using technology and precise stagecraft.
Excursions like this are a highlight of the Drama calendar. They give students a broader sense of what’s possible on stage, expose them to professional performance standards, and often spark ideas that make their way straight back into their own devised work. Seeing a show live with all its energy, risk and immediacy, is a very different experience to reading about theatre, and it’s one that tends to stay with students long after the curtain comes down.
The excursion also gave students the chance to experience the State Theatre itself as a venue, a reminder of the professional pathways and performance spaces that exist beyond school, and the standard of work our students can aspire to as they continue developing their own skills in physical and devised theatre.
A big thank you to the students for representing St Aloysius College so well while out and about in the city. We look forward to seeing how the ideas from Commentary filter into upcoming Drama reviews and productions.
Students commented on their experience:
“I thought the play commentary was very intuitive, with complex characters that made me think about the production long after it was over. I also really enjoyed the question-and-answer session with the cast and crew immediately after the show.” Nicole, Year 11
“It was a great production, and I loved learning about the complicated character’s lives. The end of the play was quite shocking after learning about the messy day-to-day lives of the characters throughout the play.” Savannah, Year 11
“I particularly love the staging of the set design and the lighting in the show Which highlighted the separate areas and locations in the production. It was also a great way of showing different characters perspectives at different times.” Charlize, Year 11
“The play kept you on the edge of your seat the whole time wondering what was to come next. The production captured very interesting concepts that reflected society as we see it today.” Bethany, Year 11
“I thought it was a really well written play with dedicated actors. I really enjoyed the metaphors used throughout the play – I thought it was a great production that I really enjoyed seeing.” Mattie, Year 10
“I really like the central character of nick, I felt he was a very sympathetic character as he’s his own worst enemy getting himself into situations and then feeling bad about the situations he’s got himself into.” Evelyn, Year 10
The Addams Family Lights Up the Stage
What an extraordinary week it was recently for our Drama and Performing Arts community! The Co-Curricular production of The Addams Family at Prince Alfred College drew delighted audiences and thoroughly earned every laugh and gasp it received.
Our students brought Morticia, Wednesday, and the rest of the wonderfully macabre Addams clan to life with genuine flair — sharp comic timing, confident vocal work, and a real sense of ensemble energy that carried through every scene. Watching our girls step into this collaborative production alongside the young men of PAC was a highlight in itself. From the very first rehearsal, they worked together with maturity, generosity, and mutual respect, building the kind of creative partnership that makes co-curricular theatre so valuable. The result was a cast that moved, sang, and performed as one company, not two schools sharing a stage, but a single ensemble telling a story together.
Beyond the performances themselves, it was wonderful to see our students grow in confidence through the process: taking creative risks, supporting each other backstage, and rising to the demands of a large-scale musical production. These are the moments that remind us why co-curricular Drama matters so much, the friendships formed, the skills built, and the shared sense of achievement when the final curtain falls. Congratulations to every student involved, on stage and behind the scenes, for such a memorable production.
Finally, our sincere thanks go to Director, Sharon Reynolds for her vision, energy, and dedication in bringing this production to life, and to all the staff at Prince Alfred College who gave their time and expertise to support our students throughout the process. Productions like this one don’t happen without generous staff who believe in the value of the arts and we are grateful for the opportunity, once again, for our girls in our non-musical years.
Bravo to all involved in a superb season of The Addams Family!
Student Comments are below:
“Being a part of the musical is an amazing experience. Being able to make connections and new friends from other schools is just one of the amazing elements of the production. The musical gave us many different opportunities. Personally, I had the leadership opportunity of being a Dance Captain which allowed me to expand my leadership skills and challenge myself in new ways. The show expanded our world of theatre knowledge as we worked with industry professionals to create an amazing and professional production.” Grace Kennedy, Year 12.
“The Addams Family Musical was a privilege to be apart of, being able to connect and work alongside so many talented people from another school as well as other year levels was truly an honour. Through this experience I was able to grow as a performer and making lasting friendships with people who are as creative as I am. Every individual was phenomenal from the leads, to the dancers, to the band, to my fellow ensemble members who made every rehearsal and performance so much fun! Truly a highlight in my high school journey, especially as being a Drama Leader and being able to work alongside another school.” Drama Leader Haylee Bahr, Year 12
“Although I wasn’t in the cast, I got the amazing opportunity of volunteering in their hair, makeup, and costume department. From making new friends across PAC as well as the younger year levels at SAC, the experience was a new and fun learning environment for me. Despite focusing primarily on the makeup for the lead characters, I got to further develop my stage makeup skills across facepainting as well. The opportunity was one I would do again, not only for the friendships I have made, but also for the chance to work in an environment, much resembling a professional creative workspace.” Drama Leader Sophie Calder, Year 12
“This was my first time joining PAC for a musical and it was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. I enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends that I will cherish forever, I also enjoyed learning new skills and broadening my theatre knowledge. I’m so proud of myself and the rest of the cast for the work we put into the show and I know I’ll look back on this with joy and gratitude.” Amy Branson, Year 12
Mr Tom Coultas
Drama Coordinator
