Scotch College

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Since the introduction of Drama as a VCE subject, the Year 11 play has become a significant event in the Drama programme.

This annual production is a vehicle for students to display their developing craft on stage, and is an attempt to create a sophisticated, and at times, provocative experience for its audience.

'Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme' was one such play, and this group of nine students had enormous success in rising to the challenge.

The play itself follows the experience of eight men who volunteer to serve in the 36th Ulster Division at the beginning of WW1.

It reaches a climax at the start of the Battle of Somme, which stands for the ultimate test of Ulster's loyalty: a blood sacrifice to match any made by the Irish Nationalists.

The play is told in flashback, as the sole survivor of the division relives the days leading up to the death of his fellow soldiers. His life is haunted by memories, by questions that remained unanswered, as he holds God in contempt for the events that occurred there.

Students began the process of rehearsal with a great deal of research on the Irish Conflict, and even invited the Principal, Dr Donaldson to give his perspective and first hand experiences of growing up in Northern Ireland. All this helped the students in understanding what motivated these Ulster men, and they were able to work this into some very committed and credible portrayals on stage.

The Year 11 class performed this play in the Scout Hall on the nights of November 1 and 2, and the audience was taken not only by the subject of the play, but also the convincing way in which the cast was able to generate the passion and commitment which these real life soldiers had for their cause.

The boys must be further congratulated for the way in which they dealt with the power blackout on the second night, and this was a credit to their focus and concentration.

Mr David Mustafa