Grammar Gazette-Issue 1, 2021

High Achievers How rock climbing builds more than just strength

Theatre’s Role An agent for global citizenship and social change

Mrs Katrina Riveros Head of Drama

In 1994, construction began for the McCrae Grassie Sport Centre. Among timber beams, grandstand seating, foam matting, and familiar elements of a secondary school gymnasium was a feature that demanded attention: a floor-to-ceiling, purpose-built rock climbing structure in the centre of the building’s eastern wall. From the moment the concrete was poured for this mammoth structure, the Brisbane Girls Grammar School community fell in love with the sport.

Arriving amidst the construction debris was the School’s newly appointed Sports Manager, Mr Barry Greatorex He immediately recognised the potential of the facility and championed the School’s newest sport It was a passion that would endure: 2021 marks Barry’s 27th, and final, year as the Rock Climbing Coordinator at BGGS As the only indoor climbing wall of its kind in South East Queensland at the time, the School hosted and competed in Club State Titles competitions from 1995 to 1997 Their introduction to climbing at BGGS sparked a competitive career in the sport for a few Grammar girls Since graduating, Lucy Stirling (2010) has become one of Australia’s most celebrated lead climbers, representing Australia in three World Youth Climbing Championships and 14 International Open World Cups Currently, Lucy is focused on training for selection to the 2021 Olympic Games Over the decades, rock climbing has remained a popular addition to the School’s extensive list of sports—particularly among younger year levels In 2021 the wall is consistently busy across each of the three weekly sessions Barry Greatorex believes that climbing teaches many life lessons, develops individual skills such as perseverance and resilience, and nurtures teamwork and interdependence ‘The Girls Grammar climbing wall is a unique space where girls not only achieve their own goals, they learn that success depends on trust,’ Barry said ‘The girl on the wall relies on her two teammates on belay, who take on the responsibility of keeping her safe It’s these relationships that form the magic of climbing and make each girl’s triumphs even more special ’ ■

A group of protesters chant in unison, soldiers round up sleeping civilians, witnesses report a heinous crime, a group of mourners wail and lament. The setting, however, is not on the streets but right here in the humble Drama classroom. It is a space that transforms from a learning zone to a stage where theatre politics are crafted to confront and challenge.

Our co-curricular program also reflects contemporary social issues through our careful curation of plays that go beyond merely entertaining an audience—rather, they provoke intellectual thought and empathy This year's Senior Drama Production of Guus Keijer's The Book of Everything was held in May It is a beautiful and poignant story centred around a nine- year-old protagonist, Thomas Klopper, who lives in postwar Amsterdam, played by one of our Drama Captains, Sunday McCullogh (12L) His imagination and wonder are captured as he writes down his thoughts, interactions, and minute observations in his 'book of everything' His insight and curiosity remind us that innocence can provide a clear perspective on adult behaviour and societal norms Thomas’ small acts of kindness and courage offer an example of an agent for change ■

the words of people's accounts taken through interviews, testimonials, letters and journals into dialogue and text The play studied, The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman, documents a rural town's reaction to a local young man's death that attracted media attention worldwide It challenges students to explore the sociological factors that lead to hate crime and understand the religious and economic factors underpinned by the town’s prejudice and divide Year 12 students examine the politics of war by studying Bertolt Brecht's classic text, Mother Courage and her Children Often referred to as an anti-war play, the German director and playwright wrote it in 1939 as Hitler's forces began invading Poland His protagonist, Mother Courage, was intended to inspire revolutionary ideals and the play condemned Nazi militarism. Students critically reflect on current global conflicts and question the politics and economic factors—trade, power, land ownership—that influence or result in war

Drama engages students in global, social, and political issues viscerally and experientially Unpacking and analysing play scripts requires a deep understanding of the layered contexts before placing them on the stage Through this process of textual analysis and dramatic exploration of the contexts, students make real connections between what is going on in their news feeds and why it matters The embodied learning style in Drama connects the student actor with the human experience of the character As the character is situated within a range of familiar and less familiar contexts—a wartime siege, a grieving family, a refugee in hiding, wartime, a divided rural community in the aftermath of a hate crime—students are forced to question the social, political and economic forces to deliver an authentic portrayal Senior Drama students create theatre that expresses a strong social comment and viewpoint Year 11 students are introduced to Verbatim Theatre, a form that documents a real event or story by directly transposing

above Rockclimbing Coordinators, Mr Andrew Lanning and Mr Barry Greatorex left Jemima Roach (7M)

above Sunday McCullough (12L) with cast members in The Book of Everything

Gazette

Gazette

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

16

Issue 1, 2021

17

Issue 1, 2021