Drama students from across Logan high schools will showcase their talents on stage at the second Logan Drama Festival at Kingston Butter Factory this month.
Students from Mabel Park, Marsden, Loganlea, Browns Plains and Kingston state high schools will perform short plays.
Logan Drama Festival coordinator Kathryn Stephan says the festival is all about making drama and theatre more visible within the local community and giving students a space where their work can be seen, celebrated and taken seriously.
“The festival brings students together with peers from other schools and connects them with professional theatre makers, creating opportunities for them to learn, collaborate and be inspired beyond their own classrooms,” Ms Stephan said.
“Most importantly, it gives students the opportunity to perform in a professional theatre environment and to see themselves not simply as students learning about theatre, but as emerging artists and theatre makers in their own right.”
The festival is starting a new initiative called Positive Postcards, where participants write encouraging messages to each other to recognise standout performances and the hard work behind each production.
Ms Stephan said she hope it would create a culture where students recognised the way they showed up, supported others and contributed to the creative community was just as valuable as what happened on stage.
“[The initiative] gives students a meaningful opportunity to connect with peers they may not otherwise meet and, importantly, to walk away from the festival with a positive message from another young person who noticed their contribution.”
Mabel Park State High School performance coordinator and drama teacher Alana Oprea says the Mabel Park students have been hard at work to adapt Yve Blake’s Fangirls into their own drama production
“Some of our students have only performed once before a live audience, so having the opportunity to perform at the Kingston Butter Factory in front of their local community will be especially meaningful.”
Loganlea State High School teacher in charge Cleo Kalatzis says the Loganlea students have been working hard to create a range of small productions and are very excited to be participating in the festival
“Performing in a professional venue helps elevate their performances and creates memorable experiences that encourage creativity, confidence, and a deeper appreciation for the arts.”
Kingston State College teacher in charge Jenna Peisley says it has been fantastic to see students’ commitment and enthusiasm throughout the preparation process.
“The drama students have been working hard in rehearsals, developing their characters, refining their performance skills and working as team.”
Marsden State High drama teacher Caitlin Wood said that the opportunities for experience and networking makes the festival exciting for the students.
“We’re really excited for this year’s Logan Drama Festival. It’s such a great opportunity for our students to work with professional actors and be exposed to the work of other students.”
Logan mayor Jon Raven said the festival celebrated Logan’s next generation of creatives.
“This is an opportunity for young performers to step onto a professional stage and become part of the city’s thriving arts community,” Cr Raven said.
“Logan is full of talented people who are waiting for their moment to step into the spotlight,” he said.
The Logan Drama Festival runs from 6pm-8pm on Wednesday 16 September at the Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct. Book tickets via Logan Arts.
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