On the 27th February, our Year 12 General and ATAR Drama students had the exciting opportunity to visit His Majesty’s Theatre for a full day creative immersion with the Black Swan State Theatre Company. The excursion offered students a rare chance to step inside one of Perth’s most iconic arts venues and engage directly with industry professionals. 

The day began with a wonderful guided tour of the theatre, where students explored the historic balconies, backstage areas, dressing rooms, and technical spaces, they were even given the opportunity to lower the house curtains. They gained valuable insight into the mechanics of live performance, from fly towers and lighting rigs to the architectural heritage that makes “The Maj” a cultural landmark. 

Students then participated in a hands on set design workshop, experimenting with shape, texture, colour, and spatial composition to communicate meaning on stage. They learned how professional designers interpret scripts visually, skills that directly support their upcoming practical tasks. This workshop jumpstarted students in their preparation for the Year 12 General class production of ‘Impending Everyone’ which will be presented to an audience on the 7th May. 

The final session was a powerful verbatim theatre workshop, where students worked with real stories to explore authenticity, vocal technique, gesture, and ethical storytelling. Through collaborative exercises, they discovered how performers transform lived experiences into compelling dramatic art. 

The excursion was enriching, inspiring, and deeply relevant to both courses. A huge thank you to Black Swan State Theatre Company and His Majesty’s Theatre for providing our students with such a meaningful learning experience. 

By Rachelle Parker 

Drama Teacher