Mater Dei College has celebrated National Sorry Day with a combined choir, art and drama performance which encouraged the school community to reflect on the real meaning of reconciliation.
The secondary Catholic college hosted the performance on 25 May, the day before National Sorry Day, in front of staff, students and parents, as well as Director of Catholic Education WA, Tim McDonald, and other Catholic education representatives.
Representing the wider Edgewater community at the event were North Metropolitan MLC, Ken Travers; City of Joondalup Councillors, Nige Jones and Phillipa Taylor; and Department of Aboriginal Affairs representatives.
Mater Dei College drama teacher, Maree Grayden, wrote a piece especially for the occasion which was performed by the college’s Year 11 drama students and based on the performance style called ‘epic theatre’.
Developed by the theorist Bertolt Brecht, epic theatre forms part of the drama syllabus in Year 11 and endeavours to educate the audience, making it particularly appropriate for National Sorry Day.
Actor and mentor, Maitland Scnapps, who also delivered the Welcome to Country, led the students through the performance, which showcased significant moments in Aboriginal history and prominent Aboriginal individuals.
Mrs Grayden said the performance adopted epic theatre techniques such as images and signs, exposed production elements, multi-roles, narration and music.
This was designed to alienate the audience and encourage them not to feel for the characters but to reflect on the social message, she explained.
“These alienation techniques can be identified in our Sorry Day performance. Through our performance, we hope that we encourage the school community to reflect on the healing and reconciliation that is the business of Sorry Day,” she said.
The performance was not only limited to drama; it also incorporated a song from the college choir, written especially for the occasion by singing teacher, Kerry Byrom-Carter.
Mrs Byrom-Carter said the song, titled Message, explored themes of resilience, hope and reconciliation.
“The lyrics emphasis a message of love, hope and understanding, reinforcing the fact we are one people, and one Australia,” she said.
The final aspect of the performance was a Sorry Day mural that was devised and constructed by students under the direction of art and design teacher, Toby Hurd.
Building the 7m mural provided an opportunity to celebrate the Aboriginal people who achieved amazing things in the face of adversity, Mr Hurd said.
“We wanted to highlight their achievements and showcase their spirit on a large-scale visual,” he said.
“Combining this with the choir and drama students was a very rewarding experience. We were aiming to educate the college community through the arts with themes of resilience and reconciliation.”
As part of preparations for National Sorry Day, Mater Dei College also held a smoking ceremony on 16 May, officiated by local Aboriginal elder, Marie Taylor.