Emil and the Detectives

There’s no such thing as having too many friends.

-Emil

The seed of this play began when a group of boys, many of whom had never been involved in a production, met one Tuesday afternoon to play some theatre games and “basically have fun” (as they put it). What followed after that initial meeting was characterised by a sense of adventure and open-heartedness, with the boys also surmounting some extraordinary challenges along the way. At the risk of sounding trite, I believe it is this process, this journey, that was the most essential thing for the actors involved. Creating an engaging narrative, while important, should be fun, and should be about sharing, through the communal theatre making experience, the very experiences that make us human. I have always believed that good performances always follow if there is a sense of excitement and play.

Pictured: Joshua Lam trying to keep his identity under wraps

Pictured in header: Lachlan Gray, Oscar Handelsmann, Thomas Lange and Marcus Retboell are on the case

And then there were the fantastic set, costumes and lighting! Our amazingly talented designers Mr Lochie Odgers (set and costume) and Mr Aron Murray (lighting) created something truly special. A huge thank you also to Ms Emily Kaufling, Dr Douglas Wilson and Mr Dameon Garnett for their boundless enthusiasm and support throughout the production. And to the pupils, both on and off the stage and in the production booth, I send my biggest thanks and congratulations. I hope you had as much fun as I had and that you continue to feed your passion for drama and theatre.

Pictured: Oscar Handelsmann lost in the sewers