The junior arm of Stawell Performing Arts Company produced a colourful, fun and educational performance last month enjoyed by more than 600 local primary school students, parents, friends and community members.
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In the tradition of Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones, audiences were led by two daring young archaeologists, Lara (Jasmine Jagan) and Jr (Alanis Williams) who encountered an all singing all talking skeleton, Lucy (Charlotte Harwood) who took them on a journey through a celebration of culture, dancing and laughing their way through key periods in history.
In Mesopotamia they witnessed the invention of writing and commerce under the guidance of kind Gilgamesh (Connor Williams) and in Egypt the people built a great pyramid - as well as mummifying their pharaoh (Alicia Burton). Grease it was all about the words, paying tribute to that civilisation’s contribution to theatre, art and architecture.
These 20 talented youngsters also no only build Rome in less than a day they managed to negotiate the complicated process of putting on your toga while dancing and singing as well! A real accomplishment.
In a scene on the bounty of Asian culture, audiences were thrilled by a processional dragon carried down through the auditorium and a captivating fan dance from Saige Omernik - with thanks to Stawell Secondary College's Chinese program teacher Ling for supplying the costumes, fans and dance instruction.
Some notable comments from primary school audience members were 'that was great' 'did you see the dragon?' The building of the pyramid also gave rise to some real excitement, but nothing compared to the overwhelming audience response to the glow in the dark skeleton dance.
Program leader Dianne Stewart said it is rewarding to see the ability and skills of the Young Ones growing each year with each show.
“This year's show was prop and costume heavy with most Young Ones having to undertake at least two and some up to four costume changes - transforming themselves into new characters each time and needing to get themselves back onto stage in time for speaking and singing parts. This was a real challenge and our Young Ones did it with ease,” she said.
Ms Stewart also expressed her gratitude to all of the volunteers who made and adjusted costumes, built sets and worked tirelessly side and back stage, without who's help, the show would not have been a success.
The program is now open for new enrolments and anyone interested can ring Dianne on 0427850278.
