St. Bernards College 2013 Yearbook #1 | Page 60

Performing Arts “ The best way to get into Drama is much like getting into a cold swimming pool… hold your breath, jump right in, and scream if you must! I Faculty am always surprised by my students in Drama (in a good way, of course!) There are all my trusty old drama students who have taken the subject from day one of its introduction. They continually amaze me with their can-do attitude, determination and hard work. They take on new roles and are not afraid to push themselves into uncharted territory, including the world of “Commedia dell’Arte” with its crazy characters, intense physicality, masks and improvisational slapstick comedy. It isn’t easy, but the students this year took on the challenge with 58 ” sometimes hysterically funny results. And then there are the students who are new to drama. They sometimes aren’t sure what they have gotten themselves into, but they soon realise that the best way to get into Drama is much like getting into a cold swimming pool…hold your breath, jump right in , and scream if you must. Some of these new students have truly amazed me by leaping in headfirst! Out of the blue, with no prior experience, these students quietly turned up and bravely worked alongside some of our senior actors and wowed everyone in the room. I was especially proud of those who went so far as to audition for our big production this year—what courage you all have! We started the year with a roar at the O’Shea Competition with SBC placing third equal with Sacred Heart College in the Drama section of the competition. Well done, Jacob, Stephen, Andy, Hosea, Brandon and Tim! We followed that with a brilliant production of “The Battalion” with veteran actor Jim Moriarty and Sacred Heart College. It was an outstanding success and everyone who participated was a part of something very special. Students had an acting apprenticeship with Jim. They worked very hard and produced a show which was as good as any professional show we have seen in the Hutt in a long time. Next year, while some of our stars are moving on to new challenges in the big wide world, there is plenty in store for those wonderful SBC Drama students, old and new, including another opportunity to work with Jim and the crew at Te Rakau. I can’t wait to get started! Mrs Jaeger-Letts St Bernard’s College 2013