Arts

Performing Arts

The Autumn Play opens

The curtain rises on a brand new tradition at Haileybury with the inaugural Autumn Play, The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet. This playful production launches the Senior School theatrical season with colour, creativity and plenty of rhyme.

In this wildly imaginative retelling, Shakespeare’s tragic tale is turned delightfully upside down. Welcome to the world of the Capitulates and the Monotones. where feuds are funny, romance is ridiculous, and the story you thought you knew becomes a joyful comic adventure.

Rehearsals for the Autumn Play take on an exciting workshop-style approach, encouraging students to experiment with character, voice and physicality. Under the guidance of Artist in Residence Alister Smith, students explore bold choices and inventive storytelling as they bring this whimsical world to life on stage. The process is as playful as the performance itself, giving performers the chance to collaborate, improvise and discover new theatrical possibilities.

Opening 18–19 March, the Autumn Play promises laughter, energy and plenty of Seussian flair.

This lively production also sets the stage for another highlight of the season: West Side Story, coming to the Aikman Stage from 29 April to 3 May. Inspired by Romeo and Juliet, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s celebrated musical leans into the tragic heart of Shakespeare’s story, offering a powerful contrast to the comic chaos of The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet.

Two classic stories, two unforgettable interpretations; one vibrant theatre season.

Book your tickets here.

Nicole Smith
Head of Drama and Theatre Studies

Music

Showcase events begin – Thursday 19 March

As the year gathers momentum, we are delighted to launch our Performing Arts calendar with the much-anticipated Senior School Twilight Concert on Thursday, 19 March. This relaxed outdoor event will take place in the Senior School Quadrangle in front of Wings Café at Senior School Keysborough from 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm.

Families are warmly invited to join us for an evening of music and community, with light refreshments provided. The concert will feature a range of Senior School large ensembles performing music drawn from across a diverse popular music inspired landscape, from the music of Sting, through the jazz of Duke Ellington, to the iconic sounds of Star Wars and the vibrant rhythms of the Gipsy Kings. It promises to be an entertaining showcase of the versatility and talent of our young musicians.

Following the concert, the Senior School Drama Department will present our inaugural Autumn Play, The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet, on the Aikman Hall Reverse Stage. Beginning at 7.00 pm (just 30 minutes after the Twilight Concert concludes) this lively and comedic reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic promises an evening of laughter and outstanding student performances.

The production showcases the impressive achievements of our drama students, developed under the direction of award-winning director Alister Smith through a series of intensive, multi-campus workshop sessions held at City.

Tickets for the play are $20 for adults and $15 for students, and we encourage families to stay on and enjoy this wonderful continuation of the evening’s entertainment.

Importantly, Twilight Concert and Autumn Play are a wonderful opportunity for new Haileybury families to experience the richness of our performing arts program in a relaxed setting. Showcase evenings like 19 March highlight the breadth and diversity of opportunities available to students and families across the Haileybury community.

Rod Marshall
Director of Performing Arts & Head of Haileybury Music

Visual Arts

Haileybury Young Archie Competition

The past few weeks mark the full cycle of the inaugural Haileybury Young Archie Competition, an opportunity to celebrate portraiture and the people who mean the most to our students while giving them the chance to compete in a national art competition. Inspired by the renowned Archibald Prize, the Young Archie invited students to create a portrait of someone significant in their lives; a person who has influenced, supported or inspired them.

The response from students was incredible, setting the calibre for coming years. Entries reflected a wide range of relationships and stories, with portraits of family members, teachers, friends and mentors brought to life through drawing, painting and mixed media approaches.

What was particularly striking was the care with which students considered not just the likeness of their subject, but the personality and character of the person they were portraying.

The exhibition of entries at the Keysborough Senior School HYVA Gallery held from 16–27 Feb created a vibrant celebration of creativity within the school community, and it was wonderful to see students proudly sharing their work and the stories behind their chosen subjects.

The following students have been selected to represent Haileybury and are now being considered in the National Young Archie competition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. They have each received an art supplies voucher valued at $100 each. We can’t wait to see what they create next.

Age 5 – 8 Years

Poppy - Edrington
Chenul - Newlands

Age 9 – 12 Years

Amelia Kate - Edrington
Luca - City
Aaron - Castlefield

Age 13-15 Years

Panya - City
Lillian – Haileybury Rendall School
Kira – Keysborough

Age 16-18 Years

Mya – Berwick
Emily – Keysborough

As our first foray into this competition, the Haileybury Young Archie has set a strong foundation for what we hope will become a much-loved annual tradition within the Visual Arts program.

Encore of Excellence evening

Another recent highlight was the Encore of Excellence Evening on Monday 23 February, which celebrated outstanding student achievement across the Visual and Performing Arts. The evening provided an opportunity for families and members of the school community to experience a curated selection of exceptional student work from across Art Making and Exhibiting (Ethan), Media (Emmet), and Visual Communication Design (Lulu) as well as the other creative performance-based subjects.

Pipes & Drums

The Haileybury Pipes & Drums have had another busy month filled with performances, weekend rehearsals and competitions.

HPFPD proudly hosted its very first Gala Evening, featuring performances from all three Haileybury bands. It was a fantastic night, and everyone in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the occasion.

Our B and C Bands also performed at the Newlands Open Day. It was a pleasure to be part of this event, and the bands’ performances were very well received by the audience. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase Pipes & Drums to prospective Haileybury families.

The following day brought an early start for our B and C Bands, who were once again invited to perform at the annual Patterson River Fun Run. Despite the early hour and light rain, the day was a great success, and we were honoured to be involved in this fantastic community event.

On Sunday, 1 March, all three Haileybury bands attended their first competition of the season. Each band performed exceptionally well, with our A Band pipers defeating their rivals, Scotch College, in the Novice A Grade. We were honoured to have our Patron, Mrs Jane Gibbs, in attendance, along with our previous Patrons, Mrs Pam Chamberlain and Dr Ross Sundberg. It is always wonderful to have your continued support at our events.

Haileybury Pipes & Drums proudly hosted the 2026 Pipes Band Victoria and Haileybury Contest on Sunday, 15 March. Congratulations to all our bands on their outstanding performances and achievements:

Novice Bands

• A Band
  • 1st place in the Medley element (piping, drumming, and ensemble)
  • 1st place – Best Dressed
• B Band
  • 3rd place in the Marches element, with 3rd in both piping and ensemble
  • 2nd place in the Medley element, with 2nd in both drumming and ensemble
  • 2nd place – Best Dressed
• C Band
  • 6th place in the Marches element (including 5th in piping)
  • 3rd place – Best Dressed

Adult Grades

• Grade 3
  • 4th place overall
  • 1st place in Medley drumming
• Grade 4B
  • 8th place overall
  • 5th place in Medley drumming

Daniel Staley
Director of Pipes & Drums