It’s been a dramatic week so far. Senior students from several Canberra schools have been rehearsing in the Visions theatre for Come Alive, the inaugural schools festival of museum theatre, which runs from 3 to 6 November here at the National Museum.
Participating schools from the ACT include Narrabundah College, Canberra Boys Grammar School, Canberra College, Orana School, Erindale College, Lake Tuggeranong College, Calwell High School, Dickson College, Merici College and Lake Ginninderra College.
Schools have been invited to create an original piece of theatre, inspired by one or more stories or exhibits in the National Museum of Australia galleries. Most of the schools have selected a story, a person or an event from the Museum’s Eternity Gallery or the recently opened Australian Journeys Gallery. Prominent Australians who have inspired the one act performances by the students include Jenny Kee, Annette Kellerman, Tim Sharp, Lindy Chamberlain, Olive King and the Tichbourne Claimant. Exhibits that are being interpreted in a dramatic performance include the Red Riding Hood quilt, the Min Min lights and the Race to the Gold Diggings Game.
Students have created their own dramatic interpretation of events, involving research and the re-enactment of certain stories or a contemporary interpretation inspired by the exhibit. Schools will present a matinee performance and an evening performance over the four days of the festival.
The rehearsals have been busy, productive and occasionally, well, dramatic, as producers and actors alike explore the unfamiliar performance space and technical capabilities. Two of the quotable quotes heard this week include:
“Help!-that’s nothing like what I expected!”
(language modified to prevent offence) and
“I thought the producer was going to strangle one of the actors up there!”
(Education Officer after witnessing a stormy rehearsal). The pieces are shaping up well and we’re all looking forward to seeing the finished performances. There is no charge to attend the performances and Museum Theatre presents a different way of engaging with the stories in the Museum. Come along and be inspired!
Yes, you saw it, entry is free. Bookings are essential however, so give us a ring on 6208 5345 to book in with your students.
[...] month the Museum hosted the inaugural schools festival of museum theatre, Come Alive. Eight schools joined in, each one performing an original piece of theatre based on a story or [...]