HAPPENINGS
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
Primary production is a hit On 9-10 April, the Year 5 and 6 students staged the production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. This dramatization, by Joseph Robinette, of C.S. Lewis’ classic was set in the land of Narnia, recreating the magic and mystery of Aslan – the great lion – his struggle with the White Witch, and the adventures of four children who inadvertently wandered from an old wardrobe into the exciting, never-to-beforgotten Narnia. The intense action featured chases, duels and escapes as the witch was determined to keep Narnia in her possession and to end the reign of Aslan. We saw the temptation of Edmund by the witch, the slaying of the evil wolf by Peter, the witnessing of Aslan’s resurrection by Susan and Lucy, the crowning of the four new rulers of Narnia, and more. The supporting characters of the unicorn, the centaur and other forest animals, along with Father
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THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE
Christmas, Mr and Mrs Beaver and Tumnus the Faun were very well portrayed by the actors.
design which gave the students an opportunity to contribute, grow and in the end, shine.
The production process was designed to layer the complexity of live performance into manageable steps. The concept of layers in the actual stage play, set design, lighting, sound and of course the performance of the actors were the focus of this process. All the resources provided by the Discovery College Theatre were utilised to ensure that the experience for the students, teachers and parents was nothing less than a full one.
The enthusiasm, energy and practical assistance of the Discovery College staff, parents and students made the theatre production process a rewarding experience and once again the persistence, drive, dedication and talent displayed by all made the show a resounding success. As director, I am always excited and humbled by how much I learn from the students who fearlessly work through this rigorous process.
In choosing the play for students, the aim was to satisfy both educational and artistic goals. The script demanded discipline and risk-taking from the actors whilst providing scope for fun and celebration. The rehearsal process involved script writing, dance workshops, music composition, makeup and costume
Frank Donnoli Primary Drama Teacher