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Senior Arts Tour
In the first week of the Term 2 holidays, a group of 22 students and 4 staff ventured to Sydney for the 2026 Arts Tour. Excitement was high with an early flight out of Perth as our Drama, Dance, Media, Visual Arts, Media and Design students prepared to embrace the culture of this incredible city.
The first day commenced with an Orientation Tour of Sydney which included the Queen Victoria Building and some of the Inner City sights before dinner down at the picturesque Cockle Bay Wharf which was completed with some of the ‘Masterchef Famous’ Messina Gelato.
Day two was a little wet and windy but that didn’t stop our tour group grabbing every opportunity. We ventured down to Circular Quay and jumped on the Ferry across to Manly, an incredible beachside tourist town where students were able to enjoy the markets and beach culture. After a wild journey back across the harbour, the evening was spent taking in a performance of ‘The Lion King Musical’ at the Capitol Theatre. An astounding show, students were able to appreciate the choreography, vocal performance, costume design, puppetry, set design and lighting on a large professional scale.
Day three was abuzz with activity, commencing the day at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) where students undertook a Physical Theatre workshop and a tour of the incredible facilities, proving inspirational. A return to Circular Quay saw a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art, at which students were able to view a range of contemporary and avant garde displays. The evening was a combination of history and storytelling as The Ghost Tour of the Rocks proved insightful and atmospheric for all involved.
Another adventure filled day awaited on day four with the group splitting into activity rotations. The Sydney Conservatorium of Music hosted us for a highly engaging Gamelan Workshop, a type of Indonesian Percussion. Students loved being introduced to an unfamiliar musical tradition and appreciated the opportunity to learn something entirely new. The State Library of NSW was next where students explored the incredible venue, viewed the Shakespeare Room and the exhibition of children’s illustrator Pamela Allen. An inspiring venue with so much history and culture. In the afternoon, we ventured out of the city and out to Sydney Olympic Park where an afternoon of magic awaited, exploring the Harry Potter Exhibition. Students appreciated the immersive displays, costumes, props and set recreations, while also engaging with the many interactive elements throughout the exhibition. A group dinner of Chinese rounded out a particularly enjoyable day four.
Day five saw the big guns of the Sydney Theatre and Dance scene. Venturing down to the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, the group commenced with a workshop by Sydney Theatre Company. Focusing on devising theatre, students explored practical drama-making processes and collaborated to create work using a range of performance techniques. The group then split in two with our dancers moving over to the Sydney Dance Company in the same precinct. The class was highly technical and professionally delivered, providing students with an authentic insight into the standards expected within a professional dance company. For our dancers, this proved a tour highlight. The second group ventured out to cultural hub Newtown where a street art walking tour was undertaken. Students gained insight into a range of street artists, artistic styles and creative techniques while exploring parts of Sydney they may not otherwise have visited. Later in the evening, the group returned to the Walsh Bay precinct, visiting the Roslyn Packer Theatre for the Sydney Theatre Company Production of ‘Doubt: A Parable’. The production was exceptional. Although the themes were confronting and complex, students were captivated by the quality of the acting and the creativity of the production. A highlight was the chance to meet and speak to lead actor Sam Reid post show.
Reaching day six, it was time for some filmmaking as the group ventured to the JMC Academy for a Shoot and Edit Workshop. A particular highlight was the collaborative filming activity, where Drama students performed prepared monologues while Media students filmed and lit the performances using the techniques they had learned. This practical application allowed students to see the direct relationship between performance and production. A brief stop at Haymarket gave students the chance to explore Paddy’s Markets. A trip to the Belvoir St Theatre saw Visual Art and Drama collide as students were challenged to develop costume concepts based on production briefs and script excerpts, encouraging them to think critically about characterisation, context and visual storytelling. Our final evening saw a range of activities take place dependent on student interest. A group of students travelled down to the Sydney Opera House to take in ‘Engine’ by the Sydney Dance Company. The production was artistically exceptional, showcasing extraordinary athleticism, creativity and technical precision. Although many of the students who attended were dancers, the performance also resonated strongly with students from other Arts disciplines. Other students were given some time to explore the city and its shopping culture, with particular interest in the world’s largest certified Lego store in the Pitt Street Mall.
Our final day in the Harbour City was centred around one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, the Sydney Opera House. The day started with a visual art workshop focused on the architecture, layout and artistic elements of the building. This was followed by a highly insightful tour which gave students the opportunity to explore the performance spaces and even catch part of a rehearsal by Opera Australia.
This marked the end of a memorable, exciting and unforgettable tour. A huge thank you to tour leader Mrs Leadon and support staff Mr McRae, Miss Tucker and Mrs Weaver for their incredible work whilst on tour. It was an incredible opportunity for our Arts students to create and be inspired in and by one of the world’s leading cultural cities.