Acting Stream Term 2: From Shakespeare’s Forest to a Desert Island

The McDonald College’s Term 2 season of drama performances has showcased the incredible range, commitment, and creative growth of our Acting Stream students across both Junior and Senior levels.

Junior Acting Stream – Lord of the Flies

Years 7–9 Acting students presented a powerful and haunting adaptation of Lord of the Flies, tackling complex emotional and psychological themes with remarkable maturity and focus.

Set on a remote island after a plane crash, the production explored the breakdown of order, the rise of fear, and the erosion of innocence among a group of stranded schoolchildren. Under the guidance of tutor Alex Lee-Rekers, our young actors embraced the emotional demands of the work and supported one another to build a cohesive and compelling ensemble.

Through their performances, the students explored the thin line between civilisation and savagery, grappling with questions of leadership, morality, and survival. The success of the show lay not only in its gripping storytelling, but in the collaborative spirit of the cast and the dedication of the broader team—technical crew, costuming, and administration included.

Senior Acting Stream – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Our Years 10–12 Acting students reimagined Shakespeare’s most beloved comedy with flair, humour, and a distinctively Australian twist. Their production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream transported audiences from Athens to the outback, where fairy magic met bush landscapes and classic verse was brought to life with a fresh, accessible energy.

This bold adaptation allowed students to explore Shakespeare’s timeless themes of love, confusion, and transformation through uniquely local characters and settings. Initial apprehension about tackling Shakespeare soon gave way to joy and discovery as students embraced the rhythm of the language and the creative potential of the material. Their performances were dynamic, connected, and deeply entertaining.

The production also featured an original live score by members of the Music Stream, adding an evocative layer to the storytelling. The collaboration between creative streams highlights the interdisciplinary spirit that defines the Performing Arts at McDonald.

We’re especially proud that our cast will continue to share this work beyond Sydney, touring the show to Wagga Wagga over the holidays—an exciting opportunity to bring regional audiences into the magic of the forest.