British theatre actor and director Simon Callow has stated that “to enter the theatre is to be inducted into a magical space.” Last week, we once again made the Hopgood Theatre at Noarlunga our home for the week, and transformed it into a magical space where we invited the audience to enter in and to enjoy the story of Ariel, the little mermaid.

The magic began even before the curtain rose. A school of fish (our Junior School Chorus) entered through the auditorium and ‘swam’ down towards the stage. As the curtain lifted, audience members got their first look at the set design, which replicated the look of a Victorian era children’s theatre. The richness of the set was complimented by the stunning costume and make-up design, and the lighting, which brought to life the characters in our fresh and unique interpretation. As each new location was revealed, and as each new plot twist occurred, audiences laughed, cried and applauded.

This production was truly a collaborative effort. Students from Year 4-12 acted, sang and danced, and were supported by a brilliant crew of backstage set movers and technical operators, again from all three sub-schools. All in all, approximately 100 students were involved in the production. We are so proud of all our students, and the quality of the performances surprised and delighted even regular attendees at our performing arts events.

I am indebted to the team of staff in our Production Team, who have worked on this production since August last year, dedicating hundreds of hours of their personal time to bring this show to life. I am also incredibly appreciative of the teams of parent and staff volunteers who supported our show in so many ways.

When the curtain went down at the end of Saturday night’s performance of The Little Mermaid, several audience members stood to their feet and gave the show a standing ovation. This was a glorious moment of connection between the audience, the cast and crew, and the support team. It was recognition that we had entered this theatrical space, and together we had created magic. The memories – and the magic - of The Little Mermaid will last for years to come.
 

Mrs Elizabeth Bentley
DIRECTOR