Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2017

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FRIENDS OF GIRLS GRAMMAR ARTS EXTENSION PROGRAMME

Creative Arts opportunities at Brisbane Girls Grammar School are carefully crafted to encourage communication, collaboration and teamwork. Ailish drew connections between this school learning and her involvement in the NIDA course, noting that ‘the egalitarian environment opened a platform of vulnerability, honesty and clear and effective communication between individuals; an element pivotal to creating any work of art.’ In addition to developing very specific drama skills, Ailish had time to reflect more generally on the ways creative arts can help students develop necessary twenty-first century personal and social skills such as adaptability, resilience, self-awareness, cultural awareness and ethical understanding. ‘This is one of the most important lessons Girls Grammar has taught me over the years, to be strongly opinionated, to support your ground with evidence, and to be self- aware and culturally aware in the process.’ This purposeful engagement with the arts community beyond Girls Grammar has helped Ailish hone her sense of the role of the arts. ‘I stepped into an auditorium on a Monday, with a room full of unfamiliar adolescents and a mentor. I left that Friday with life-long lessons, strong friendships built on a supportive ensemble and a deeper understanding of the arts, myself and the world.’ Ailish hopes to continue developing her skills in different genres of performance through the Sydney Drama Tour excursion during the mid-year school holidays.

AUTHOR Mr Andrew Pennay Creative Arts Director

EACH YEAR THE FRIENDS OF GIRLS GRAMMAR AWARDS A BURSARY TO A STUDENT IN YEAR 11 TO ENABLE HER TO ATTEND AN EXTENSION PROGRAMME IN THE ARTS DURING THE SUMMER VACATION PRIOR TO HER COMMENCEMENT OF YEAR 12. Current Year 12 Drama student Ailish Luke Martin (12O) was the recipient of the 2016 bursary. Ailish attended a week-long course at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA). The specific NIDA programme Ailish attended was designed for young artists who demonstrate commitment and curiosity. Ailish was keen to explore these facets of her own craft. ‘Artists gather inspiration from everywhere, and we take such an interest in history, science and politics. So much of our modern day can be incorporated into not only the presenting and expression of art, but the creation of art,’ Ailish said. Participating in diverse workshops across the week, from non-gendered, non-contextualised two-person scripts that contained vague dialogue through to an immensely over-dramatised monologue from Romeo and Juliet, Ailish was excited to explore many new techniques on stage. ‘ As an actress, I love learning the tools with which to deliver a dramatic performance that embodies a statement and leaving the audience moved.’

Ailish Luke Martin (12O) [right], pictured with Georgia Perry (11G) [left] and Isabel Horsley (11G) [centre] during rehearsals for the 2017 Senior Drama Production Spontaneous Human Combustion

GRAMMAR GAZETTE