@Cosi

YEARS 11 AND 12 DRAMA EXCURSION: “Cosi”  
On Thursday, March 24th, the combined Years 11 and 12 Drama classes attended an evening performance of the „classic‟ Australian play, “Cosi”. Directed by David Berthold and produced by La Boite Theatre, the play lived up to the reviewers‟ comments that this production is a "must see‟.  
The girls thoroughly enjoyed “Cosi” and the experience of attending live professional theatre. Set in a mental institution in 1970, the play centres around a young arts worker (Lewis) who works against all odds to direct and stage a production of Mozart‟s Opera "Cosi Fan Tutte‟ with the inmates as performers.  A black comedy, there are moments of comic hilarity and also intense pathos.
Below are just a few of the girls‟ comments regarding the production: “Cosi’ was so much more than I could ever have expected…. the production pulls you to the edge of the seat. I definitely recommend that everyone go to see it! Five stars!” (Sophie) “Absolutely amazing! The actors portrayed the characters beautifully” (Indi) “Cosi’ was an absolutely amazing performance that captivated the audience.
The theme of madness was well portrayed. "Couldn’t stop laughing! I enjoyed it 100 per cent!” (Ella) “Utterly captivating. An intense and beautiful examination of madness and sanity” (Eden) “ Cosi’ made this connection that no matter who you are you can still relate. I loved it! It was hilarious! I could watch it over and over” (Sarah)  “ Cosi’ was absolutely amazing. The actors portrayed the characters’ pain in a comical way but still allowed us to feel the pain they were experiencing beneath the comedy” (Charlotte).   “Funny, sad, frightening and exhilarating” (Cassandra) “The best play I have ever seen” (Danika) “Very remarkable performances from each and every actor” (Brittany) “It was so inspiring to me as an actor. ...The most spectacular production I have seen so far in my life”. (Maddie).
The years 11 and 12 Drama students are now busily working on their essay task which addresses a topic requiring their reflection on the production in the form of an analytical response.

Macbeth

Macbeth @ QPac

From the director 

Michael Attenborough - Wikipedia

Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare between 1603 and 1607. One of the greatest tragedies ever written, the play was based on the true story of Mac Bethad mac Findlaich, King of the Scots in the 11th century.
It is known that Shakespeare wrote Macbeth partially as a celebration of King James, who had just ascended the throne in 1603. King James had a great fascination with witches, and the witches of Macbeth were likely inspired by his interest. In addition, much of the plot of Macbeth is surmised to have been inspired by the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when a group of English Catholics attempted to assassinate King James of England, as well as King James VI of Scotland.
Shakespeare's most popular play, Macbeth is performed more often than any of his other works. Its first public performance was in 1611 at the Globe Theatre in London. The first actor to play the role was the esteemed Richard Burbage.

Summary from another Macbeth



Cartoon summary of Macbeth

Complete text online

Macbeth movie - YouTube - Jason Connery

Macbeth movie - YouTube - Sam Worthington



Study guides
Macbeth
Macbeth
Study notes

International Women's Day

A message from the Executive Director, Australian National Committee for UN Women.

" I work for an organisation called UN Women NC Australia which is the United Nations agency for gender equality and the empowerment of women.  We need your help.  70 per cent of the world’s poor are women.  Girls your age are being required to leave school in order to be able to work and support their families and often are forced to marry an older man before they are 18. Can you imagine if over your summer holidays you were sold to another family to clean, cook and look after children?  Without pay or even a day off, you would be unlikely to see your family or friends.  Can you imagine feeling hunger so extreme that you can’t see or hear properly?  If you, like me, believe that young girls should not have to experience this – please help us to change the reality for so many girls around the world. March 8 is International Women’s Day.  Acknowledged around the world, IWD is an opportunity for us to support our sisters across the world, ensuring they have basic rights and access to basic health and education services.  It is a day to celebrate the rights which women and girls are afforded in Australia, but also to recognise that we have a long way to go before we are treated equally and respectfully. My organisation believes that men can and should play an important role in promoting gender equality. Not only is it a human rights issue, but improving the lives of women benefits the whole community. We hope that all schools – girls’, boys’, and co-educational – will get involved with International Women’s Day. Please talk to your teachers and your friends about how you can support IWD 2014.  Help us raise funds to ensure that girls around the world have a brighter future."

Best wishes,
Julie McKay Executive Director Australian National Committee for UN Women


Why is it important for women to earn an income of their own?
Why is it important for girls to get an education?
Why is it important for girls (and boys) to have role models  in their community?
Who do you look up to?


The Australian National Committee for UN Women's theme for International Women’s Day 2014 is Ending Poverty for Women and Girls through Economic Empowerment.

70% of the global poor are women.

Although women perform 2/3 of the world's work, they earn less than 10% of the world's wages.

Women are far more likely than men to live in poverty because of discrimination and lack of access to education, employment and financial services.

Learn more: 


WHY DO SO MANY WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD LIVE IN POVERTY?


Some facts about females in Australia.

Demographics

Worldwide population: 7.14 billion

Total number of women worldwide: 3.54 billion (49.6% female)

Australian population: 23,357,216

Total number of women in Australia: 11,725,322 (50.2% female)

Queensland population: 4,709,636

Total number of women in Queensland: 2,364,237 (50.2% female)

20.8% were born overseas

3.6% identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

Life expectancy

Queensland women are living longer, but Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have a shorter lifespan than non-Indigenous women.

1881-1890: 49.8 years

1971: 74.7 years

2009-2011: 84.1 years

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, 2005-07: 73.6 years

Fertility

The fertility rate in Queensland has increased from the all-time low in 2003, and is slightly above the national average. 

Of all births registered in Queensland in 2012, 6.4 per cent were to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers.

2003     – 1.804 babies per woman (lowest ever)

2012 – 1.997 babies per woman

2012 – 2.953 babies per Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman

Women head most one parent families with 85.6% of one parent families being headed by women in 2011.

The median age for childbirth was 29.8 years in 2012.

Learn more: IWD Fact Sheet

Louis Nowra's Cosi

Louis Nowra (12 December 1950 - ) is one of Australia's most acclaimed and prolific writers. Playwright, screenwriter and librettist, Nowra is famous for such plays as Cosi, Byzantine Flowers, Summer of the Aliens, Radiance, and The Golden Age.  He has recently completed a major trilogy for Griffin Theatre Company:  The Woman with Dog's Eyes, The Marvellous Boy and The Emperor of Sydney.

Nowra was born Mark Doyle in Melbourne. He changed his name to Louis Nowra in the early 1970s. He studied at Melbourne's La Trobe University without earning a degree. In his memoir, The Twelfth of Never, Nowra claimed that he left the course due to a conflict with his professor over Patrick White's The Tree of Man. He worked in several jobs and lived an itinerant lifestyle until the mid-1970s, when his plays began to attract attention.
Links:
Study guides - Cosi
La Boite

The star studded production of Cosi inlcudes Brisbane NIDA graduate Benjamin Schostakowski, theatre stars Aaron Davison, Jennifer Flowers, Amy Ingram, Benjamin Schostakowski, Anthony Standish and Trevor Stuart along with Packed to the Rafters star Jessica Marais who will star opposite her former on-screen boyfriend turned off-screen fiancé James Stewart for the first time on stage.

Cosi Wikipedia
Study guide - Ticking Mind
Study guide - Insight Publications
Links on Louis Nowra

Year 12

Year 9 - Australiana