Workshops

Rosa was engaging from the very beginning and had the students transfixed. She was flexible with her program to fit with our schedule and injected humour and life into her workshops. She was able to see the unique personality of each boy and build on his enthusiasm. I would highly recommend this very physical program.

Miriam Rawson, LOTE Coordinator, Xavier College, Kew

My senior kids are still talking about the workshop and they thought you were amazing. They thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. You encouraged them to take risks, to be creative and to commit, in a way that really challenged their thinking about physicality and characterisation. We were all sorry that the time went so quickly - we will definitely have you back!

Mandy Calterwood, Christian College, Geelong

Rosa's workshops really engaged my Year 10 class. They especially enjoyed her very entertaining and energetic demonstrations of Zanni. I really liked how Rosa was able to explore the physicalisation of the Commedia dell'Arte characters in a simple and effective manner. The performances that this class devised and presented after both the intro and extension workshops were excellent.  The student performers really understood the stock characters and were able to entertain a class of year 7's who had never seen anything like a Commedia canovacci before.

Jane Penhallurick, Drama Teacher, Carey Baptist Grammar School, Kew

The workshop was entertaining, engaging and inclusive. What was truly remarkable was that Grant was able to get every Year 9 boy from the entire year level to try all the Commedia dell’Arte characters.

Gillian Gilchirst, Drama Teacher, St Kevins College, Waterford Campus, Richmond

Thank you so much for the non-naturalistic mask workshop. All the students had such positive responses and have said that they really enjoyed the experience. I really thought it was such a fun and affirming session where all the students, no matter what their ability, felt as though they could try new things in a safe environment. Rather than theorising so much about the non-naturalistic style you were able to make it very physical and practical - so improtant for students at this stage in their VCE Drama course, I know they all left really feeling as though they achieved a and learnt a lot.

Leonore Marshall, Drama Teacher, Girton Grammar, Bendigo

The workshop Rosa ran for our Year 5/6 was outstanding and I would like to thank her very much for all she did to involve and include the children. Her manner and relationship with the children was wonderful and took into account the children of all ability levels. It was indeed a privilege for all.

Peter Hockey, Head of Junior School, Beaconhills College, Pakenham

The workshop presented excellent detail of the historical context of Commedia dell’Arte and complemented this information with diverse and highly practical exercises to help the students physically realise the characters in performance.

Gabrielle Quin, Drama Coordinator, Genazzano College, Kew

The workshop was fantastic, very practical and loads of fun.

Drama Victoria Conference delegates and workshop participants

The Commedia dell’Arte workshop was a most entertaining way of understanding about this important tradition of Italian theatre. It combined Italian history and culture in a most engaging format.

Celeste Pegoli, LOTE Coordinator, Our Lady of Mercy College, Heidelberg

The workshop was fantastic for Drama students and conducted very professionally.  It incorporated a wonderful range of activities including a short, informative DVD and use of the masks. The workshop was challenging but still inclusive of all students and had them moving in a more expressive way than I ever could! Their characterisation really develops after they do the workshop, and their knowledge of the theory has been extended.

Linda Box, Drama Teacher, Santa Maria College, Northcote

Performance

A most engaging, high energy performance. It made me feel like a child again!

Caroline Graley, Padua College, Rosebud

Absolutely appropriate for all ages! Annie Curran, St Paul's College, Kew

The performance was sensational. It is appropriate for Primary to VCE. It was one of the most entertaining pieces I have ever seen. Excellent audience participation, energy and brilliant fun. Thank you so much for bringing this art form alive. Bianca Kawalec, Mount Scopus Memorial College

I'm one of the Italian language assistants at Salesian College and I enjoyed your show a lot. It really looked like the real one I am used to watching in Italy! I come from Naples, the Commedia city, famous for Eduardo De Filippo who played Pulcinella. I can truly say that you have entered into the spirit of this art. It was fun and it has a good sense of irony. The mix between Italian and English was really well done!

Michela Genovese, Language Assistant, Salesian College, Rupertswood.

Our students were totally engaged in the performance - from the enthusiastic and accepting Year 6's to the slightly harder to entertain Year 9's! The energy and presence of both Rosa and Fabio and their proficient performance of a range of Commedia characters made for very entertaining theatre. It was a fantastic introduction to the use of mask and the various conventions of the Commedia dell'Arte.

Mandy Calderwood, Christian College Geelong.

The performance was very engaging and has the potential to be useful for both Drama and Italian students. It will definitely come in handy when reinforcing concepts such as gesture, status, space and focus.

David O'Brien, Catholic Regional College, Sydenham

The show was so well done and beautifully presented. It had everything in it - all the elements that we know to expect from Commedia dell'Arte...bravi, bravi, bravi!

Donna Salera, LOTE Coordinator, St Mark's Catholic Primary School, Fawkner

The performance was truly one of the best we have seen. Make a Scene's professionalism and attention to detail were superb and it was thoroughly enjoyed by students and staff.

Christine O'Brien, Christ Church Grammar, Toorak

I have nothing but positive comments from staff and students about your performance. The incorporation of Italian into the play was excellent and all students were engaged. The interaction with students and their involvement was excellent. I would happily recommend your services to other LOTE teachers.

Carolyn Graffeo, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Bentleigh

We 'amore' watching Arlecchino e La Principessa because it was soooo funny and awesome! We would watch it a million times again! Our favourite character was Capitano Massdestruction. Grazie Mille!

Rose, Ella & Salma, North Melbourne Primary School

Arelcchino e La Principessa was awesome because you put a modern twist on an old idea. After watching your play the Carnevale plays we were doing at school really improved. Grazie!

Lucia & Giulietta, North Melbourne Primary School

The performance and workshop sessions introduced our level 4 students to a very different style of acting and an important part of Italian culture. Rosa interacted energetically yet sensitively with the students, who found the experience enriching and challenging. Quite a few of the students thought that there were more than two actors in the performance and the miming and improvised moments were greatly appreciated!

Isabella Wolfram, Canterbury Primary School, Canterbury

The feedback has been 100% positive! Every individaul has glowed with praise for your show. Many were amused by the slapstick and others mightily impressed by the fact that there were only two actors! You really had them fooled. The kids loved the way Arlecchino's costume blended with the backdrop when he was 'hiding'!

Lisa Fusinato (Moonee Ponds Central)

School Holiday Drama Programme

My two daughters have attended several School Holiday Drama Programmes and have love it so much they've brought friends along! The programme is run beautifully with a variety of activities and wonderful staff who are experienced in teaching and performing professionally. My girls are always really excited to go and can't stop talking about it afterwards.

Fiona, mother of 2

It doesn't matter if you're experienced or not, it's really fun and everyone gets to play a part in the performance.

Bonnie, 9 years of age

My 13 year old daughter always loves attending the holiday sessions and from what she tells me there is always something new and interesting to learn. She enjoys meeting others with similar interests and trying out new characters in the mini productions. With the support and encouragement of the teaching staff at Make A Scene, and the other children who attend, I have seen her confidence grow and I have watched her become more at ease with herself on stage. Thanks for putting on these great workshops during the holidays.

Ariane, parent