The idea that there is a whole story behind a poem was brought to life today as students at Sancta Maria College were lucky enough to experience a captivating, intriguing and unique presentation of poetry through acting and plays.
It was led by the Poetry in Action Theatre Company from Australia which is known as one of Australia’s truly global and innovative theatre companies. They have performed for hundreds of different communities and entertained hundreds of thousands of young people. They are currently on a tour of New Zealand, visiting different schools and showing that poetry can actually be real fun and interactive and that it’s about sharing your perspectives and ideas and thinking about how the words of each poem can mean so much.
The visit was planned a year ago and a lot of dedication went into being able to get the Poetry in Action team here for students to enjoy. It looked like the wait had definitely paid off with students looking inspired and excited throughout the performance. The idea of acting out poetry instead of reading it made it more enjoyable and engaging for students. All eyes were on the actors and it was a new and different experience for both teachers and students.
There were 3 different shows that the Poetry in Action team performed during the day, each one dedicated to what students at the College have been learning in their English classes. One of the shows was called: Words of War. It included poems by Wilfred Owen who is a famous English poet and was a soldier during World War I. 2018 marks 100 years since his death and the Poetry in Action performance showcased some of the things that Owen went through while at war and explored his influential style of poetry that provided thrill and heartbreak. It was eye-opening and a great insight into what war was really like.
A huge thank you to Mrs Sullivan for organizing this event and to the Poetry in Action team for giving the students a memorable show, helping to change our views about poetry and to realise the important messages that it carries.
Shontelle Matano
