Rangi Ruru drama students win in Brisbane

Rangi Ruru Girls’ School senior theatre scholars have taken away Best Play First Prize, Best Director, and Best Set Design at The Brisbane Arts Theatre Festival held at the weekend for their production of Crave by British playwright Sarah Kane.

The senior drama students competed in the ‘open’ section despite there being a youth section. This was because of the language and content of Crave, a play often described as an “extreme theatre piece” for “mature audiences”.

Brisbane Arts Theatre artistic director and festival adjudicator, John Boyce, praised the girls for their extraordinary discipline and ensemble work. Rangi Ruru director of theatre arts, Robert Gilbert, said his students showed they could perform at the highest level.

“They have consistently demonstrated that they can come together and create theatre magic. I am immensely proud of them. What a special group of young actors. It has been a privilege to be part of their journey.”

The South East Queensland Theatre Festival circuit links 10 festivals from June to September each year, culminating in the Brisbane Arts Theatre Festival. Typically, many of the top theatre groups enter several of these festivals to improve their craft, and develop their production. Most groups also have seasons of these productions in their own theatres. This was Rangi Ruru’s first attempt.

The same group of students won ‘Best Production’ at the Norfolk Island Theatre Festival last year with Bottom’s Tale – excerpts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.