There is a creative buzz in the air of the Drama Department at The Scots College with the opening of a new rehearsal room, an initiative of the Principal Dr Ian Lambert, The Scots Performing Arts Support group and Ms IIdiko Campbell, Head of Drama. The committee are focused on supporting the Performing Arts in the School, and the initiative agreed upon was to renovate and create more space for the boys, realising that the “that the boys needed more space where they could freely express their ‘voice’ and innovative dramatic actions,” says Ms Campbell.
The new rehearsal space has no chairs or furniture and is a wide-open space where the boys can move around freely, expressing physical, spontaneous acts of their skills. “In this new space, boys have the opportunity to create Drama and Theatre with integrity and to develop their understanding of how important space is in creating innovative work,” says Ms Campbell. Drama is the largest Co-Curricular subject at Scots, where boys who are subject to sitting daily have a chance for creative outlet.
The boys were keen to use this space and expressed their excitement and enthusiasm in the language that teenage boys use best. “That’s so cool Miss,” and “woah this is amazing”. One of the Year 11 boys, Lachlan Vass said “it feels like its our own personal space where we can be free to be ourselves and develop our craft.”
Drama is offered at Scots as both a curriculum subject and as a Co-Curricular option, and has been on the curriculum at the College since 1994, with children from Kindergarten to Year 12 engaging in this subject. With support from the Performing Arts Support Group (PASG), a parent initiative, the new rehearsal space was opened and dedicated in March of this year. The PASG raised funds throughout the year with dinners and other events that contributed to funding the newly designed room.
Ms Campbell is in her second year as Head of Drama and has zeal and passion toward seeing the boys achieve all that is within them and beyond. “Some of the boys start off shy, retreating in the corner, but begin to develop confidence in a short space of time and find their voice, giving them the self-esteem they need for everyday life. Our actors are always being challenged and stretched in their understanding of the Performing Arts.”
