Students of the Raymond Terrace learning community were busy putting the final touches on their performances ahead of Showcase this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Held as part of Education Week, which runs August 6 to 10, Showcase brings students from Irrawang high plus Wirreanda, Medowie, Grahamstown and Irrawang public schools together for two evenings of performance.
“We do it in Education Week to celebrate the public education system,” Adele Robinson, head teacher of Irrawang High School’s creative and performing arts (CAPA) department, said.
“There’s nothing better to celebrate that with than a showcase of our creative and performing artists.”
Ms Robinson has been an organiser of Showcase for 25 years.
Showcase is a chance for students to demonstrate their performing arts talents, but also acts as a transition tool for the primary school students moving into high school.
Showcase, staged in Irrawang High School’s hall, provides students an opportunity to perform to a large crowd – about 1000 people turn out to each show – and with professional lighting and sound.
About 600 primary and 150 Irrawang High School students will take part in Showcase this year, which has the theme ‘my town is coming alive’.
In addition to providing singers, dancers and musicians stage time, Showcase gives students interested in the behind-the-scenes work an opportunity to gain experience.
A student production team of high school students has been busily working on creating posters for Showcase, programs, compare notes, labels and a number of other items required for the shows.
High school students also form the backstage crew, which will help with sound and lighting during the two performances on Tuesday, August 7 and Wednesday, August 8. Both shows begin at 6pm.
On stage on Tuesday will be the students of Wirreanda and Irrawang public schools. On stage on Wednesday will be Grahamstown and Medowie public schools. Irrawang High School students join them on stage both nights.
Tickets are on sale now from all participating schools.
The cost is $25 for a family of four, $10 per adult and $5 for school-aged children and concessions.
Showcase is not the only opportunity students have to perform during Education Week, which this year has a theme of ‘today’s schools creating tomorrow’s world’.
MarketPlace Raymond Terrace will host 10 schools throughout the week where students will showcase their performing art talents.
Irrawang and Karuah public schools kicked off the week with a morning and afternoon performance respectively on Monday (August 6).
Seaham and Medowie public schools will perform at 10am and 11am respectively on Tuesday followed by Raymond Terrace public at 9.45am and Hunter River High at 12.30pm on Wednesday.
Wirreanda public will perform at 11am on Thursday followed by Salt Ash public at 1pm.
Rounding out the week will be Irrawang High School which will also have an interactive art display from 9.30am and Grahamstown public at 11.30am on Friday.
Ms Robinson thanked Colleen Mulholland-Ruiz from MarketPlace Raymond Terrace for providing a performance venue, sound equipment and transport funding for the students of the 10 schools.
School performances at MarketPlace Raymond Terrace
Monday August 6
Irrawang PS – 11am to 12.30pm
Karuah PS – 1pm to 1.45pm
Tuesday, August 7
Seaham PS – 10am to 10.45am
Medowie PS – 11am to 12.30pm
Wednesday, August 8
Raymond Terrace PS – 9.45am to 11.15am
Hunter River HS – 12.30pm to 2pm
Thursday, August 9
Wirreanda PS – 11am to 12.30pm
Salt Ash PS – 1pm to 1.45pm
Friday, August 10
Irrawang HS – 9.30am to 11am, plus an interactive display 9.30am to 2.30pm
Grahamstown PS – 11.30am to 1pm
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
