The Thistle - An E-Newsletter of Scotch College, Perth, Western Australia

Performing Arts

Established in 1988, the Act – Belong – Commit Youth on Health Arts Festival has grown into one of Australia's largest celebrations of youth creativity and is a leading forum for health promotion. Each year young people across Western Australia and the Northern Territory share their stories on the issues most relevant to them through drama, dance or visual art. In the Drama category, participants have the chance to get on stage and show off their talents, and educate themselves, audience members and the wider community about the challenges faced by young people in today's world. This year's theme is "Pushed to the Limit".

Year 10 (now Year 11) Drama students Charles Maxwell (Year 11, Alexander), Flynn Le Cornu (Year 11, Anderson), Joshua Keatch (Year 11, Keys) and Patrick Eastough (Year 11, Ferguson) have taken advantage of this unique opportunity to develop their acting skills, gain more experience performing in the public arena and undergo the creative process of developing an original work which resulted in the play "The Masks of Masculinity".

These young men were initially inspired by the "Man Up Campaign," exploring men's mental health and issues around the construction of masculinity in contemporary society. "The Masks of Masculinity" examines the different roles society tells men to play, to be strong and toughen up while hiding their true feelings behind a mask, and how these expectations often push men to their mental and physical limits, as they tend to avoid seeking help.

After successfully competing in the Perth Heat at the Subiaco Arts Centre, they went on to win the Drama Category of the State Final Competition at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre. Congratulations!

Ms Sarah Combes
Head of Drama