Performing Arts
Peter and the Starcatcher
Peter and the Starcatcher proved a swashbuckling success, with pirates, mermaids and adventure dazzling audiences across its run. The ambitious Senior School play reimagined the Aikman Stage as high seas, mystical jungles and faraway islands as the cast and crew brought to life the imaginative origin story of Peter Pan.
There were certainly plenty of stars in the making. Abir (Year 10) delivered an evocative and heartfelt performance as the titular character, capturing an orphan boy's journey towards identity, belonging and a place to call home in Neverland. Lia (Year 12) revelled in the role of the deliciously villainous and eccentric Black Stache, charting the character's transformation into the infamous Captain Hook with charisma, flair and impeccable comic timing. Kiara (Year 12) dazzled as Molly, the brave and determined Starcatcher whose friendship inspires Peter to discover who he is. Riley's (Year 12) performance as both Lord Aster and the underwater Teacher, complete with a bespoke sparkling costume, was a crowd favourite.
The sense of camaraderie between the cast and backstage crew was palpable, beginning with the rousing opening musical number that brought the entire company together in song and dance. It was a fitting symbol of Performing Arts at Haileybury: everyone has a role to play, and every contribution matters.
This year, our backstage crew were mentored by Artist-in-Residence William Bobbie Stewart. A NIDA Design graduate, William has worked with Opera Australia, Netflix and numerous major productions. His guidance in designing, constructing and animating the puppets featured throughout the show was invaluable.
The production also drew upon the physical theatre expertise that Haileybury students and staff developed earlier this year through workshops with the London-based, Tony Award-winning theatre company Frantic Assembly. The ensemble's dynamic movement, inventive storytelling and collaborative spirit were evident throughout the production, resulting in a theatrical experience that celebrated imagination, creativity and the power of live performance.
While Peter and the Starcatcher brings this year's productions to a close, we already look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead, with auditions for next year's musical and Autumn Play commencing in Term 1A. Until then, please join us in congratulating the cast, crew and production team on an outstanding Senior School play.
Nicole Smith
Head of Drama and Theatre Studies
Music
A remarkable term in Music
What an extraordinary term it has been for Music at Haileybury.
Our concert calendar has been exceptionally busy, with approximately 3,000 parents and guests attending events across the school and around 800 students taking to the stage at least once in the term. These numbers are impressive, but behind every performance is something even more important: students developing confidence, musicianship, teamwork and a genuine love of performing.
Our ensembles have enjoyed wonderful opportunities to perform in some of Melbourne’s finest venues. Middle School Concert Bands took part in the Victorian Schools Music Festival (held at Hawthorn Town Hall), two String Orchestras performed at Music on the Edge at Federation Square, while many of our finest classical musicians were featured in public Chapel Concerts in the beautiful acoustic of the Frank Northcott Chapel.
Aria Night, our classical voice showcase and competition, provided a wonderful evening in the Keysborough Chapel, while the inaugural Magenta Concert brought together all Senior School large ensembles for a spectacular program delivered to an audience of 800 at Monash University’s Robert Blackwood Hall.
Jazz was also very much on the menu, with Jazz Nights at The Count’s featuring more than 25 combos and Stage Band across two sold-out evenings. Across all campuses, voice, piano, brass and woodwind students performed in Soirée evenings, giving families the opportunity to experience their children performing in solo and small group settings.
The Spring Choral Concert saw more than 180 Middle School students come together for an exciting program, enthusiastically received by a very appreciative audience.
And, of course, Music at Haileybury extends well beyond the concert platform. Our Middle School productions — Madagascar Jnr, Shrek Jnr, Dare To Dream, Too Many Detectives and How (Not) To Be A Wizard — showcased an extraordinary range of student talent, creativity and teamwork. At Senior School, Peter and the Starcatcher was also a huge success on the Aikman Stage.
None of this happens without the dedication of our students, the expertise and commitment of our music teachers and ensemble leaders, and the wonderful support of our families and broader Haileybury community.
Thank you for making this such a rewarding term. I wish all our students, families and staff a safe and relaxing break, and look forward to another exciting chapter of music-making next term.
Rod Marshall
Director of Performing Arts & Head of Haileybury Music
Visual Arts
Graduate Exhibition and upcoming campus Art Show
As the final weeks of Term 3 draw to a close, our Visual Arts students have been working with remarkable focus and determination to bring their folios and final products to fruition. Across Art Making and Exhibiting, Visual Communication Design and Media, students have navigated the inevitable challenges of the creative process: ideas that did not initially work, technical problems, unexpected setbacks and the need to revisit, rethink and refine.
These challenges are an essential part of creative practice. Through critique, test screenings, peer feedback and ongoing reflection, students have learnt that strong creative outcomes are rarely achieved on the first attempt. The resilience developed through this process of being willing to persist, responding to feedback and to keep improving rather than giving up, is just as valuable as the finished work itself.
We look forward to celebrating the results of this hard work throughout Term 4, beginning with our Senior School Graduate Exhibition, opening on Tuesday 13 October from 4.00 pm–6.00 pm.
The exhibition will showcase the outstanding work of our graduating Media, Art Making and Exhibiting and Visual Communication Design students, while also welcoming Systems Engineering Unit 3 and 4 students to the celebration. Work from our emerging creatives in Units 1 and 2 and Year 9 will also be displayed throughout the Visual Arts Building and Gallery.
The evening will feature a Media film screening, drinks and nibbles, a cupcake decorating station, and opportunities for visitors to make their own mark on the building. Guests will also be able to experience the building’s newest addition: the spectacular Ghostpatrol mural.
Our celebrations of student creativity will continue across the school, with Junior and Middle School Exhibitions showcasing the imagination, skill and creative growth of students at each campus:
- Castlefield: 22 October
- Edrington: 20 November
- Newlands: 26 November
- City: 2 December
We look forward to welcoming our community to these exhibitions and celebrating the creativity, resilience and achievements of our students. From the earliest explorations of young artists through to the culmination of our graduating students’ creative journeys, these events provide a wonderful opportunity to recognise the hard work, persistence and courage that sit behind every finished work.
Rachelle Rae
Head of Visual Arts Senior School
Pipes & Drums
The Pipes & Drums began Term 3 with our annual Presentation Night, held in Berthon Hall. It was a wonderful evening celebrating and recognising the commitment, dedication and achievements of our competition band players.
The evening began with performances from all three of our competition bands, followed by combined band performances of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and ‘Long Way to the Top.'
It was a fantastic night and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the hard work and success of our players. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to making the evening such a memorable success.
The Pipes & Drums were also honoured to be the closing act for the Senior Schools Magenta Concert, held at Robert Blackwood Hall at Monash University’s Clayton campus.
We opened our performance by entering the hall to the famous ‘Scotland the Brave,' before our drummers took the stage to perform the highly technical ‘Drummers’ Fanfare.' Our pipers then rejoined the drummers for a traditional hornpipe/jig set, ‘Steam Train to Mallaig,' featuring a solo performance from our Pipe Major, Brandon and finished the performance with the traditional Scottish March ‘Lochanside’ as we departed the stage.
It was a fantastic evening, and we were honoured to be part of such an amazing concert and to showcase the talent and dedication of our Pipes & Drums.
Our drummers are now preparing for the Victorian Solo Drumming Championships, which will be held in Berthon Hall at our Keysborough campus on 13 September. With more than 120 performances expected to take place throughout the day, it promises to be an exciting event.
We wish all our Haileybury drummers the very best of luck in their respective grades.
Daniel Staley
Director of Pipes & Drums
