Pure Drama 2024

Introduction

Welcome to Pure Drama, our High School Theatrical Showcase, where we proudly present a collection of performances by our talented drama students.

The showcase is titled "Pure Drama" because we believe that the performances you are about to witness are true expressions of the art of theatre - raw, powerful, and unfiltered.

Our drama students have spent countless hours rehearsing, perfecting their craft, and pouring their hearts into their performances. They have explored a wide range of themes, emotions, and characters, and have developed their skills in acting, movement, and voice to deliver truly captivating performances.

Through their work, our students have demonstrated a deep understanding and appreciation of the dramatic arts, and we are thrilled to share their passion and talent with you.

We invite you to immerse yourself in the world of "Pure Drama" and experience the range of emotions, perspectives, and stories that our students have brought to life on stage.

Thank you for joining us for this celebration of theatre and for supporting our talented young performers. Enjoy the show!

‘Commedia Carnage’ | IB Theatre - World Theatre Traditions Project

Our opening feature tonight is a medley of comedic Lazzis or skits in the Italian Theatre Tradition of Commedia Dell’Arte. These have been devised by our very talented IB Theatre Arts students who will each play a separate stock character with specific movements and vocal qualities.

Performed by: Alice, Keane, Lonyo, Marisa, Melodie, Onyu, Pleng | Video: Jack, Mooksai, Smera, Tamara

‘After Juliet’ | A Year 10 IGCSE Drama Individual Piece

Orla will perform a monologue in this sequel to Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ which picks up where this tragedy left off. Imagine the chaos in Verona after the star-crossed lovers' tragic end.  In this speech, Rosaline, Romeo’s former love interest, speaks to Juliet at her graveside. With a fresh twist for the audience, we see that Rosaline’s memory of Juliet is very different from the traditional heroine we have grown up with. 

Performed by: Orla

‘What Would You Do?’ | An ensemble piece 

If faced with a challenging decision to do something good that may result in bad things happening to you, what would you do? That is the dilemma facing Grusha, a young servant girl who saves the son of a nobleman during a revolution but at great cost to herself. The story is based on the play ‘The Caucasian Chalk Circle’ by Bertolt Brecht.  It is performed in several different styles and forms that include narration with action, performing the original text, an abstract dream sequence and puppetry. 

Performed by:  Aaron, Anya, Aki, Bambi, Chloe, Colette, Faye, Fang fang, Fey Fey, Kaopluk, Middie, Mita, Pearl, Ploy, Plum, Prithvi, Sophia, Sophia, Yumin

‘We Know Why You Did It’  | Year 10 IGCSE group devised piece

Our Year 10 IGCSE Drama students created this piece entirely for their original devised group piece. The action unfolds on a train, where a diverse group of characters collide with one another. Through the use of flashbacks, their past and present situations are revealed to us dramatically and engagingly. The ensemble brings to life the complexity and at times darker side of human relationships. As the story progresses, we witness that each character has struggles to contend with and some are holding secrets that are about to be revealed. 

Performed by: Halleli 10e, Orla 10a, Marissa 10f, Paula 10a, Romain 10b, Yui 10c

‘The It’ | Year 9 Class performance 

Year 9 will perform ‘The It’ by Vivienne Franzman as an ensemble. This thought-provoking play explores the pressures that young people experience today from the sheer amount of information they receive online. Through the central character of Grace, we see the anger that this information overload causes as ‘the IT’ grows inside of her. The IT is fed by the constant information about the world that Grace receives. 

Performed by: Aiden, Alana, Alessio, Ananda, Anisha,  Ayame, Catalina, Chinpao, Ethan, Grace, Ira, Isabel, James, Jun, Keigo, Mariia, Milo, Mimi, Patrician, Peace, Peter, Vasin, Viv

‘Lady Macbeth’ | A Year 10 IGCSE Drama Individual Piece

This monologue performed by Yui as Lady Macbeth is taken from Shakespeare’s dark and thrilling play ‘Macbeth’. In this scene, Lady Macbeth is consumed by guilt for her wicked deeds, haunted by her actions she wanders the halls in a ghostly trance, frantically scrubbing at invisible stains. Her actions are a terrifying symbol of her remorse and her descent into madness. 

Performed by: Yui

‘The 3 Truths’ | IB Theatre - Theatre Practitioner Project

Is there only ever one truth? This is the question that our IB Theatre Arts students explored recently in their practitioner project. Enjoy watching 3 different theatre practitioner perspectives on the same scene from ‘Macbeth’. We will also see the witches preparing to tell their version of the truth to Macbeth. Each group in their way communicates the story authentically but in very contrasting and inventive ways. 

Performed by: Alice, Keane, Lonyo, Marisa, Melodie, Onyu, Pleng | Video: Jack, Mooksai, Smera, Tamara

‘Blackout’ | A Year 10 IGCSE Drama Individual Piece

Romain will perform his IGCSE individual piece from ‘Blackout’ by Davey Anderson. This play was inspired by a true story of a young offender. It's a hard-hitting piece about getting bullied, fighting back, trying to make a name for yourself, turning vicious, doing something stupid, losing everything, and then finding your way again. 

Performed by: Romain

‘Lily’s Flowers’ | Year 11 IGCSE Group Devised Piece

Lily’s Flowers is an original piece created by the Year 11 IGCSE group for their final devised exam. Set in a flower shop called Lily’s Flowers, it introduces us to various characters, each with their own story. This piece takes a warm and humorous look at the importance of relationships and of course flowers in our lives. 

Performed by: Eloise,  Isabella, Marissa, Mia Alice, Mickey, Pam, Saira, Serena

‘Tilly’s Tall Tales/Tail’ | Pure Drama ECA

This short play performed by the Pure Drama ECA ensemble will delight us with a funny and surreal piece about a girl called Tilly who can’t stop telling tales. Or is it about a girl who grows a tail or both? Either way, once you’ve seen it you will think twice before telling a tall story. 

Performed by: Axel, Bambi, Benny, Chloé, Jack, Mita, Naga, Phakin, Ploysai, Prithvi, Tia, Yui, Scott

With special thanks to…

This showcase was a team effort from all the students and staff involved. 

With special thanks to Ms Shelley for coordinating tonight’s show. All three Drama teachers Ms Alex (Head of Drama), Ms Jasmine and Ms Shelley were responsible for directing and supporting the development of various performances. We were delighted to welcome back David, our Alumni student who took part in the first-ever STA Showcase. David has been supporting and inspiring the cast this week. Thank you for coming back and sharing your expertise.

Also thank you to our amazing student performers and tech team. You are all the stars of tonight’s show. Thank you to Khun Jui, Mr Shaktim, Khun Sam, Heitor and Keane - for their technical assistance with sound and lighting. And a special thank you to the Year 12 IB Theatre students for their support backstage and offstage. 

We would also like to thank Ms Georgia for supporting the students backstage tonight and Mr Nathan (Head of Faculty) for his support. Nor would we have been able to do it without the tremendous efforts and coordination of Khun Big, Khun Cream and the Estates Team. We would like to thank the ICT Department’s Mr Keith and Khun Jane for their assistance in ticketing.

Also, we'd like to offer our heartfelt thanks to the STA Community as a whole too: all of our parents, our teachers, SLT and our students for your support of the Performing Arts and encouraging our students to be the best they can be. 

We hope you have enjoyed tonight’s showcase and we look forward to seeing you again for our Term 3 extravaganza ‘Legally Blonde’!