Trekking through a blizzard, communing with an explorer from a bygone era, and taking a stand against climate change: the newest Year 9 and 10 drama production, SHACK, has something for everyone.

For the past nine weeks, a cast of 10 Year 9 and 10 drama students and a backstage crew of four Year 9 and 11 students, have been hard at work bringing their conceptualisation of SHACK to life.  

Written by George Kemp and directed by Newington Theatre Operations Manager (and internationally acclaimed lighting and set designer) Mr Benjamin Brockman, the play  centres around nine students who submit essays on climate change and win a trip to Antarctica. However, the trip goes horribly awry when they are separated from their guides and become trapped in the shack of the historical Antarctic explorer, Ernest Shackleton, during a particularly fierce blizzard. From there, the students embark upon a rugged quest for survival: both their own, and that of the entire planet. 

For Mr Brockman, whose usual remit is a focus on ‘behind the scenes’ theatre, sinking his teeth into SHACK has proved to be an enjoyable expedition to the front of stage. 

‘This is only the second show that I’ve directed in my entire career,’ he says.  

‘Directing young adults is also new to me, so it’s all been a learning curve. Such as, how do I find a language the students can relate to? How do we work together so that they have the autonomy to independently discover their own character, but also stay true to the script?’  

With rehearsals taking place three times each week throughout Term 3, our budding young actors also devoted their Term 2 holidays to memorising the script. 

According to Mr Brockman, this production is a fantastic opportunity for students to explore and bring life to characters who are the same age as themselves, and who share similar concerns. 

‘Something I really enjoy in theatre is seeing young people have the opportunity to play characters who fall within their own age group, rather than having to portray older people,’ he says.  

‘There’s just something very authentic about children acting as children, and I also think it’s largely why the students have become so invested in the storyline of this production. They can really relate and pour something of themselves into their characters.’ 

The SHACK plotline also expertly weaves in an issue that is already front-of-mind for many young people today: the perils of climate change.  

‘One of the best things about SHACK is that the students realise climate change is now upon us, and the adults aren’t coming to save them,’ says Mr Brockman. 

‘This means they have to save themselves, so they stand up and do something about it.’ 

With 11 kilograms of fake snow set to be laid onstage, smoke and strobe effects playing out during a particularly tense blizzard scene, and a multitude of secrets preparing to spill from the diary of an explorer from a bygone era, the show promises a thrilling night of entertainment for all.  

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SHACK runs over three nights, from Wednesday 17 to Friday 19 September from 7.00pm in the Duckmanton Drama Theatre. Click the button below to book your tickets now! 

For more information about the Creative and Performing Arts program at Newington, visit https://www.newington.nsw.edu.au/co-curricular/creative-and-performing-arts/.