It was truly wonderful working with these incredible young actors to create the performance of Picnic at Hanging Rock by Laura Annawyn Shamas, adapted from the book by Joan Lindsay. Each actor creatively developed their character/s with vocal and physical expression, while improvising numerous versions of each scene to reveal the tension and action of the play. We are so proud of each actor, as the simple act of memorising dialogue is complex and takes hours of individual dedication. And once on stage the actor is on their own, in front of a live audience, which takes complete and utter courage. We would like to thank all the performers for their enthusiasm and dedication to the performing arts at Santa Sabina College. What a joyful and inspiring production!
Nicole Ellis-Windsor
Head of Drama and Visual Arts
Getting the opportunity to be a part of the production for Picnic at Hanging Rock was a great experience, experimenting with what I had learned in class to put into fruition on stage. Working as an ensemble was extremely rewarding and fostered great teamwork, unlike anything to be experienced within other subjects. Watching the play come together and seeing the audience each night was so rewarding, and I felt so supported by the great efforts of the teachers who made the production what it was!’
Lily
Picnic at Hanging Rock was a wonderful experience. It encourages you to bond with others who you may not be as close with and by the end of the production I felt more comfortable with the community and was able to give it my all.
Bonnie
After careful observation I have no doubt in my mind that all of the team building, cooperation and efforts really paid off in the end. It was truly a wonderful opportunity to partake in this production, though this brilliance was not solely established by one’s self-interest but a collective range of interests within the senior years!
Marina
Throughout the play, I found that being around my fellow actors on stage and behind the scenes was fun and helped me to gain more confidence in myself when I’m acting. I enjoyed developing my character’s emotions and exploring her thoughts and how that can affect the different scenes. The experience was overall a great opportunity to work as a team and it gave me a sense of achievement by the end.
Olivia
This play was very lovely. We all did so well, we were amazing. We worked as a drama ensemble. And it was wonderful to see the play come to together.
Bridget
I had a mixture of both fear and excitement throughout the production of the play. However, being in such a great environment with understanding and hardworking students/teachers made our rehearsals and performances all the more enjoyable.
Jana
As an actor, the Picnic at Hanging Rock production was an exciting and enticing experience which was a platform for me to grow and learn. The constant rehearsing conveyed the dedication of my fellow actors and staff members, working tirelessly to encapsulate the Australian gothic play. Incorporating Constantin Stanislavski’s acting techniques, we learnt and understood how to cultivate and embody each unique and layered character. Overall, this production allowed me to meet new people and grow as an actor.
Amedea
