By Danielle Kutchel
Cranbourne East Secondary College is ready to rock, with rehearsals well under way for their upcoming school musical.
Just under 70 students will be performing their rendition of ‘We Will Rock You’, ably assisted by a backstage crew ensuring the show goes off without a hitch.
Head of performing arts at the school, Hannah Witteveen, said musicals like this are an important part of the school’s curriculum.
“A lot of our kids don’t have access to shows in the community, so that’s why we do a production every year,” she explained.
“That’s why a lot of teachers and students jump on board- they can’t get the opportunity elsewhere.”
Production coordinators Rebecca Grey and Jessica Latchford are providing ample opportunities for students to get their lines down pat. Rehearsals for the production are twice per week and will be ramped up in August with the addition of a Saturday practice too.
“It’s a lot of time and effort, but we see the value it gives to the kids. We’ve got so many eager kids that we’re able to run something like this every year,” Ms Witteveen said.
The rock show is aimed at engaging students through performing arts and has tied in with a revamp of the school’s music program.
This year, Cranbourne East Secondary introduced a new performing arts pathway for year nines, which allows them to specialise in dance, drama or music and create and perform their own shows.
The school has also started running open mic performances once a month, giving all students an opportunity to show off their talents on stage, whether it’s in singing, playing an instrument, poetry or even magic.
‘We Will Rock You’ will be performed across three nights at Cranbourne East Secondary College, on 29, 30 and 31 August. The shows start at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at https://www.trybooking.com/BDLSB .
