Speech & Drama Studio Programs Wrapped for Term 3

What an eventful term for the Speech and Drama Studio. We are so proud of each of our students for their enthusiasm and creativity and it was wonderful to see all students gaining and increasing their vocal, speaking and performance skills.  

Pre-K to Year 2 Round Square Groups

Our Round Square characters for Term 3 were Communication Cara, Diversity Dani and Self-aware Simba. Students have continued to explore a range of speech and drama activities focused on strengthening their non-verbal and verbal communication skills. This has assisted them in the creation and performance of their own version of the Round Square characters. Through differentiated poetry and prose pieces students have begun identifying characters in scripts, incorporating performance dynamics and engaging an audience. Students have worked on cultivating and strengthening their communication and presentation skills through a variety of impromptu and public speaking tasks that relate to the Round Square discoveries.

We have seen such a growth in performance and speaking skills, focus and teamwork throughout the term and are so proud of the way the girls have embraced the Round Square characters and values.

Speech and Drama ASCA and Trinity Examinations

Students have been busy working towards their Speech and Drama Australian Speech Communication Association (ASCA) and Trinity examinations in acting/performance or public speaking /communication skills. Exams are a wonderful opportunity for students to apply the skills they are developing in class and mark students’ achievements at each stage. This process is extremely beneficial allowing self-expression by bringing their own ideas and choices into the exams. 112 Speech and Drama students from Year 3 to Year 5 and private and duo Year 1 and Year 2 students participated in their ASCA examination. Year 6 to Year 11 students will be completing their exam in Term 4, Week 7 (week commencing Monday 21 November 2022.

ASCA and Trinity are highly respected examining bodies, and I have had many years affiliation with both. ASCA is an Australian Examining Board and Trinity College of London is an International Examining Board. ASCA exams are face to face exams while Trinity exams are currently via digital submission or on zoom.

Four Speech and Drama students will represent MLC School in the junior and senior poetry and readings sections at the igsa Festival of Speech in October.

Sydney Eisteddfod

A number of students performed in the Sydney Eisteddfod this term which marked the end of the Eisteddfod season and added to our 125 students who represented MLC School at the Inner West, Parramatta and Sydney Eisteddfods.

Theatresports Club

MLC School’s Theatresports Club, run by The Speech and Drama Studio and coached by Taylor Buoro, have enjoyed developing their improvisational skills this term through a variety of theatresports games that encourage spontaneity, quick thinking and decision making, teamwork, and of course lots of fun and laughter. Five students represented MLC School in Impro Australia’s School’s Theatresports Challenge. The girls performed brilliantly and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We are looking forward to our intermediate team performing early in Term 4. Four Theatresports students will represent MLC school in the Improv Drama section at the igsa Festival of Speech in October.

Script Writer’s Club

The Script Writer’s Club, run by The Speech and Drama Studio and coached by Zuzana Fort, have been exploring and developing the techniques of script writing. They have been learning about different styles and genres of writing and writing their own scripts focussing on characters, storyline, plot and structure. The best part is sharing their scripts and even acting them out.

Acting for Camera

The Acting for Camera class on Friday afternoons and private acting for camera students have been discovering their casting types, working on monologues and scene work, and learning techniques for self-taping and auditioning. Students are gaining an understanding of the film industry and next term will be assisted with creating acting profiles and gaining professional acting work. As professional actors, directors, writers and producers we are able to offer first-hand knowledge and current practises of our ever-changing film and television industry. It is wonderful to see some of our students already booking work! Well done girls! Acting for Camera classes are not only for students wanting to learn about screen acting, but for all students to develop technique for speaking and presenting on camera which is an essential tool in the world we are living where online communication is vital. 

Musical Theatre 

Our Musical Theatre stars have been working on scenes from some of the most popular Musicals such as Matilda the Musical, Mary Poppins, Hamilton, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, In the Heights, Westside Story, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, My Fair Lady, etc. Students work equally on all three areas – dance, singing and acting. We are looking forward to presenting a showcase of our Musical Theatre students’ work in Term 4.

We are so proud of the wonderful work we have seen this term from all our students and are excited to see continued development of skills and growth in confidence next term. Thank you to parents for all your support and for the wonderful feedback we receive. 

From the Speech & Drama Studio team, we wish all MLC School students a fabulous and relaxing holiday.

– Monica Brian
Speech and Drama Studio Director