Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2017

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SENIOR DRAMA PRODUCTION: SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION

Joan of Arc (Rosie Dann, 12B) instils Astrid (Harper McIlroy, 11W) with the courage to enact her mission

Spontaneous Human Combustion is a story that is moving and personal, and theatrically very innovative. The narrative cleverly interweaves the young protagonist, Astrid’s, difficult journey with her visioning Joan of Arc; paralleling Joan’s determination, the obstacles she faced and her sense of mission. The play delves into the realities and challenges of a teenager who is dealing with loss and coping with grief with great sensitivity and depth, thus validating and valuing a young person’s experience. The energy and dynamism apparent in the language is visceral. Daniel’s wicked wit tempers the piece with great comic relief offered when needed. Above all though, it is the characters that the cast found most endearing. It was a privilege to not only have had Daniel write a new work for us, but to have him direct the play too. Rehearsals were a joy to watch and to experience. Daniel’s generosity of spirit, his hilarity and his sharp creativity ensured the process was fun and light-hearted, as well as being a valuable learning experience. Insight into his diligent

AUTHOR Mrs Katrina Riveros Head of Curricular Drama

THIS YEAR’S SENIOR DRAMA PRODUCTION WAS AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE THAT STUNNED AUDIENCES AND RECEIVED ACCOLADES FOR ITS PROFESSIONAL CALIBRE AND INCOMPARABLE QUALITY. IT WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL AND UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF A SCHOOL/ INDUSTRY ARTS COLLABORATION AND A JOYOUS AND VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL INVOLVED. Spontaneous Human Combustion was a significant project undertaken by the School that commissioned award-winning playwright, Daniel Evans, to write a new and challenging play for young actors that employs the conventions of the theatrical style Magical Realism. Daniel directed an ensemble of twenty Senior Drama students, staging a stunning and truly memorable season of sold-out shows. A second phase of the project will see the publication of the text as well the creation of a complementary digital educational resource in alignment with new curriculum frameworks outlined in the incoming syllabus due for implementation in 2019. Placing stylistic constraints on the development of a play may hinder the creative writing of such a work, but Daniel tackled this challenge head on. It was in fact at one of our first discussions that Daniel pitched that Joan of Arc, a fascinating historical figure, could be a key character, out of her own time place, who intervenes in a present day world. And so the story began…

The stunning climax as Astrid sets the school oval ablaze in memory of her sister, Lucy

GRAMMAR GAZETTE