Dramatic Arts We are filled with gratitude for the year that has passed. Grateful for new beginnings, new leadership, new opportunities and new faces welcomed into the Dramatic Arts department, the creative home and haven of about 360 students. Emily and I had the honour of journeying with these wonderful students in a full and exciting year. We are fortunate that we can re-evaluate and reinvent each year, bringing fresh and innovative ideas to enhance established practices. We strive to ensure that our students’ needs, interests, and abilities inform our teaching and learning. Our subject allows us to engage with and cultivate grounded, strong, empathetic and benevolent human beings. The nature of Drama, which is more than a subject and is instead a way of life, provides a safe environment for open and robust discussion, entrenching positive human values and building and enriching character, the foundation of any human being. We are privileged to witness our stars' commitment, dedication, talent and passion. Each one brings his best to the stage. Daily we are treated to engaging and personal sharing that tugs at our heart strings, evoking tears of empathy, and then hilarious moments that have us in stitches, shedding tears of joy! Blessings in abundance came in many opportunities for the students this year. Some students were afforded the opportunity to be part of an international tour of the USA. They lived and breathed all things dramatic for two weeks, attending drama workshops with professional facilitators at the Shakespeare Theatre Company and MIT, backstage tours, and watching the best shows on Broadway and other famous theatres. Our Grade 10 and 11 students were treated to some local theatre at the Hilton Arts Festival. They watched various shows that included physical theatre, comedy, and satire. We are fortunate to subscribe to National Theatre as this opportunity has fuelled the love for theatre. We have access to incredible filmed stage plays and musicals. This has been incorporated into our teaching and learning of Dramatic Arts across the grades. Our students have taken part in exciting workshops with professional theatre practitioners, like Tim Redpath and Menzi Mkhwane who shared their skills in their fields across the grades. 2024 has already brought opportunities for which we are grateful. We are incredibly excited to welcome our intern, Ms Kizzy Khumalo, next year. She brings expertise in Motion and Picture Mediums to our department. We look forward to offering our students yet another incredible opportunity in film. Another boon we are thrilled about is that renovations are going ahead to adapt the existing Drama studio into a mini black box theatre. We will now have a fullyfledged teaching, learning, and performing theatre. We are thankful for the positive trajectory that our College continues to move in and appreciate being part of an institution that we believe is realising a The Arts long-time dream of all involved in the Arts, succinctly phrased in the words of Emily Stockil-Smith: ‘ At this institution we value empathy, creativity, connectivity and humanity above all else and as such we prioritise the subjects that teach such skills by making the Arts as significant as the other important aspects that make up our institution.’ Ms Ulaetha Singh HOD Dramatic Arts Music This year 15 boys from Grade 10 to Grade 12 studied Music as a subject. Within the subject, the pupils are encouraged to expand their music language in all aspects, with the focus on music theory, music history and the practical instrument of their choice. This year's intake of Grade 10s brought much joy as the variety of instruments increased - 2x drumkit, trumpet, 2x piano, 2x voice, where voice students previously dominated the subject. Every instrument brings a different flavour and personality into the classroom. This will help widen the dynamics and understanding in the learning environment. Seeing how the boys grow from each other's experience, learning, supporting and helping when necessary, gives me great pleasure. In the third term, all vocal students had the privilege of performing a solo piece with either the newly formed Jazz Band or the Orchestra at the Supper Theatre. The repertoire spanned from Michael Bublé to Frank Sinatra. All the boys relished this opportunity and enjoyed being a soloist backed by a live band. As the year draws to a close it is always rewarding to look back on what has been produced by the music students. All the boys taking the subject of music played a vital role in the cultural scene at Kearsney College this year. Witnessing these boys' leadership roles in the inter-house music competition was heartwarming and remarkable. All their talent and skills were utilised at their best. I commend these boys on their passion and commitment to furthering their musicianship. Mr Jonas Brolin HOD Music (subject) Left: Music Elective Below: Grade 8 Music Showcase Evening
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