2021 House Plays Programme

Welcome to the 31 st year of the House Plays Festival.

A new year and a new structure as House Plays steps into Term 1, Week 4.

10 directors from Year 11 and 12 were selected to lead the festival in late 2020, with casting finalised before the conclusion of the school year. Our company of 80 performers have diligently tread the boards of our rehearsal studios in every spare moment they could find, dedicating mornings, lunchtimes, after school and weekends to assist in bringing their creative visions to life. This festival is a balancing act, as our students commit to the large rehearsal schedule, yet still manage to fulfill their academic, sporting, and general life responsibilities. There are always moments throughout the process where it seems that the finish line is moving further away, and yet the students always strive to get there. This is the case because, for these 80 students, performing is their passion and they feel an immense sense of pride to step out onto the stage in the Roberts Theatre, represent their House and entertain their audience. For many of our performers, House Plays Festival is the cultural event of their year. They live for the hours spent together, as they forge strong relationships with a selection of students across all year levels of the Senior School. The House Plays Festival does award a Best Play each year, but we are proud to note that the Spirit Trophy also contributes points toward the Arnison Cup. Houses can gain Spirit Points for a multitude of reasons including the number of students willing to audition to be involved in the festival, random acts of kindness, respect of the facilities, comradery in the rehearsal room, stepping in to assist a House in need, working as a member of the technical services crew or simply contributing to the festival in a positive way. This year we are proud to say the winner is going to be difficult to identify, as the Spirit has been strong. Our directors have led by example, being methodical in their ability to manage the deadlines that exist for a show to be ready in 4 weeks and taking the time to be caring with their casts. An example of a memorable Spirit moment from 2021 was witnessing a director taking the time to bake enough cake for every participant and sharing them during a Sunday rehearsal to celebrate the birthday of their co–director. A second notable example of Spirit has existed within the walls of the rehearsal space, listening to the directors and cast members celebrating and supporting successes when they observe someone truly embodying their role. It has been wonderful to talk to parents regarding their child’s experience with the 2021 festival and to hear about how excited they are to come to the College each day. These moments are meaningful and acknowledge how important the House Plays Festival is for our students. Experiences in the theatre add value to a student’s learning journey. They learn to see the world through a multitude of lenses, and it allows them to develop a deeper understanding of their own identity. They build on their ability to be resilient, empathetic, and open-minded individuals. None of what you see tonight could have been accomplished without the unwavering support of parents, staff, and students. On behalf of all directors and cast members, thank you to our adjudicator Steve Pirie and all who have assisted with the House Plays Festival for 2021.

Anna D’Arcy

Josephine Flynn

Assistant Head of Performing Arts

Theatre Manager