Last week Stage 4 and 5 travelled to Sydney to see the play ‘The 7 Stages of Grieving’ by Deborah Mailman and Wesley Enoch. This play is now classed as a “Classic Australian Text ” and this Queensland Theatre production starred Chenoa Deemal. The play portrays the indigenous experience since white settlement. As the theatre company writes, the play “spins poignant stories of different people from different mobs – tear-streaked tales of tragedy go hand-in-hand with jubilant celebrations of simple survival.” Students will study the play in Stage 5. Some of the feedback from them was that they were unaware of all the ongoing consequences colonisation and settlement has had on our indigenous population.
The day was a huge adventure for some of our students. Some had never been on a train, others had never been to Sydney or the Opera House. They were allowed time to buy their lunch at Circular Quay and later, explore the Opera House surrounds. Students completely embraced the freedom they were given and I was extremely proud of their exemplary behaviour and attitude on the day. The itinerant Opera House seal even made an appearance much to the delight of many!
I spoke to Chenoa and the emcee running the Q and A session and they were extremely impressed with our students. They appreciated their involvement and participation in both the play and the Q and A session that followed. Well done Stage 4 and 5! Huge THANK YOU goes out to the 11 supervising staff who did a fantastic job on the day.
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