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Directors Message

As a class, each student had to select two stagecraft areas to focus their
learning on from the following: acting, directing, sound, stage management,
production management, lighting, set design, props, costume, make-up or
publicity and marketing. The Planning, Development and Presentation of
Children of The Black Skirt is Outcome 2, for Unit 3 Theatre Studies and makes up
sixty percent of the marks allocated for the Unit.
We have chosen to perform this piece in the style of Australian Gothic, a
stimulating and discomforting style which explores the Australian spectre of our
history and identity. The play takes place in a mythical and timeless Australian
orphanage, thus allowing it to make historical connections with colonial
Australia, Penal transportation, the Depression, the Stolen Generations and
Post-War immigration. By touching on defining moments in Australias history
as a nation, we aim to question the foundations of the Australian Identity and
whether or not the issues presented in the play have been resolved or are still
occurring in todays society.
The Unit Theatre Studies class this year is filled with talented students which has
resulted in outstanding efforts both on and off stage forour production. Whilst
challenges have been faced by all, we are extremely proud of everyones
creative and artistic endeavours, determination and the way problems were
dealt with and overcome.

Rose Adams
Conor Neylon
Darcie Kane-Priestley

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Synopsis

Three lost children stumble across an abandoned orphanage in the

bush. They become trapped in a timeless world, haunted by spirits of the
past. They are tormented too, by the Black Skirt, a cruel governess who
floats up and down the orphange corridors wielding enormous scissors.
But as the stories of these forgotton children are told - from pickpocketing incidents in the Eighteenth century to the tragedies of the Stolen
Generations in the Twentieth - their spirits are released, one by one.

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Cast List
Alyssa Baron Lizzie, Lucy
Eliza Bate Maggie
Lachie Clarke Old One / Lost Bush Child
Rhys Delios Callanan John
Zahara Cox Rosie, Mrs Connell
Alice Dempsey Black Skirt / Lost Bush Child
Felicity Smith Lizzies Mum
Angus Thomson Harrold Horrocks
Liv Watson New One / Lost Bush Child
Elisa Woolrich Ruby, Iris
David Youings Tom

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Production Team
Head Director Darcie Kane-Priestley
Directors Conor Neylon & Rose Adams
Stage Manager Mia Brown
Production Manager Elisa Woolrich & Ashleigh Tascone
Costume Saskia Poes & Alyssa Barron
Props Angus Thomson & Ashleigh Tascone
Make-Up Alice Dempsey & Eliza Bate
Sound Mia Brown & Rose Adams
Set Design Lachie Clarke, Conor Neylon & Felicity Smith
Lighting David Youings & Luke Dixon
Publicity & Marketing Rhys Delios Callanan, Liv Watson,
Zahara Cox & Saskia Poes

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Scene 1 - Discovering the Orphanage and The Black Skirt

Scene 2 - Rosie, an Aboriginal Laundry Worker
Scene 3 - John - Cockney Chimney Sweep, 1790s
Scene 4 - Lizzie - Scottish girl, 1850s
Scene 5 - Maggie - Australian girl living on the fronteir, 1880s
Scene 6 - Lucy - Aboriginal domestic girl 1910s
Scene 7 - Iris - Australian girl living in the city slums 1930s
Scene 8 - Letters from the Orphanage - 1960s
Scene 9 - Harold Horrocks, Inspector of the Orphanages
Scene 10 - Tom, boy from Yorkshire
Scene 11 - Ruby, Aboriginal girl living in the city, 1960s
Scene 12 - The Black Skirt is released

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Thanks
Wed like to say thank you to our enthusiastic cast and marvellous crew
for bringing to life Angela Betziens thrilling play Children of the Black
Skirt. Wed like to extend our thanks to Janine Power, Bruce (Creative
Kitchens), Tsets Gibbons, FORPA, Karina Woolrich, Ellen Funnell, Luke
Dixon, Pete Goodwin, Lighting Lab, Billy Stewart-Keed (Zen Zen Zo
Theatre Company), Marion Thompson, Brett Rothnie, Martina Drendel,
Bakers Delight (Glenferrie), Glenferrie Gourmet Meats, Gary Anquetil,
Judith Cairns, Emma McDonald, Jason Forest, the Trinity Drama Department and to all our parents for their support throughout this process.

Proceeds go to

All proceeds from the Ruyton / Trinity Theatre Studies Production of

Children of the Black Skirt will go to the Melbourne Indigenous Transition
School. This school was established in 2016 by the Tudor family. The
Melbourne Indigenous Transition Schools mission is for the successful
and confident transition of Indigenous students from home communities
to Melbourne schools and creating pathways to greater opportunities
for Indigenous students.

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FORPA

Friends of Ruyton Performing Arts

FORPAs role is to support and assist the Drama/Music events and activities in
the Senior and Junior schools at Ruyton. The committee is made up of interested
parents.
Parent support of the Performing Arts at Ruyton is invaluable and enhances the
rich and varied programme offered by the Performing Arts department.
FORPA meets the second Wednesday of each term at 6pm in the Ruyton Courtyard Caf - all very welcome!
2016 Co-Presidents:
Tricia Eadie 0401 109 925
Karina Woolrich 0416 109 066

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