From Tuesday, 20, to Thursday, 22 March, our Senior School production, entitled “Young Directors’ Season”, will be taking place. Four of our Matric girls are directing short plays this year, in collaboration with The PAK Collective.
We caught up with one of these girls, Bridget Buys, who is directing “The Odd Couple”, to find out more about why she loves Dramatic Arts and what she has enjoyed about directing.
“I started at St John’s in Grade 8 and in Grade 10, I chose Dramatic Arts as one of my subjects. With confidence I can say choosing Dramatic Arts was a brilliant idea, I am constantly excited for class… (Well… except when I have a practical that I’m feeling not ready for!)
Dramatic Arts has been both enjoyable and challenging; it has allowed me to discover aspects about myself that I never could have found without it. I have also done Trinity College London Examinations and with the help of Mrs Keevy-Muir, I did my Grade 7 Individual Acting Skills Examination in 2017 and was thrilled to get a distinction for it. In my Grade 11 year I redid Trinity London College Examinations with Lilu Woods (one of the other directors) and we did our Grade 8 Acting in Pairs Examination and it was an incredible honour to work with such a fantastic actress, as well as a good friend, and we both received distinctions. I was again honoured to share the Kate Homes Trophy for Most Promising Performer with Lilu at the end of last year.
Since Grade 8 I have performed in every school play as well as the Interhouse Plays in Grade 10. Last year I took myself out of my comfort zone by performing in Funk. It is a challenge to not be on stage this year, however, it is an exciting experience as I have been a director before doing Interhouse Slam Poetry in Grade 11, and it is a little different being on the other side of a performance. I have Full Colours for Dramatic Arts and I’m very happy to be working with the PAK Collective members. My mentor is BreeH Cele and it is an amazing experience to work with someone outside of St John’s D.S.G. It brings a fresh look at things as well a great opportunity to learn.”
