This week students of VCE Drama concluded their formal practical assessment by presenting their Solo Performance exam pieces to external assessors. While the standard of work this year was impressive in standard sadly there was no opportunity to share these works with the school community. So much of these performances were developed in remote learning and it was a credit to our twelve graduating students to stay creative and stay resilient as they filmed segments of their intended pieces in bathrooms, bedrooms, and the odd garage for feedback.

The Solo Performance is one of the most active and challenging of exams. On direct show will be the individual themselves. Such is the nature of performance and why tasks such as this are so important to our student’s development as performers. The task requires students to create an original performance based on prescribed characters and stimulus. This is assessed in a live performance by a panel of external examiners using set criteria. Through extensive research, improvisation, scriptwriting, and rehearsal the finished product is formed. Further to this, students must demonstrate knowledge and skill in relation to selected performance styles, specified theatrical conventions and dramatic elements in the realisation of their performance.

As you can see, this is quite a difficult and complex task and the final results as they entered the examination centre was a credit to themselves and the strong and proud traditions, we have for performance studies at the College.

As they take to the stage each other and selected classes their efforts this week I am reminded of how much this extraordinary group of young people have contributed to the artistic and cultural life of our College over the past six years. I will miss them greatly.

ANDREW SEEARY -Performing Arts Coordinator—Drama