By Cameron Weston
SWEET cakes are hard to refuse at the best of times but imagine a world where they are actually addictive, sought after and fought over by underworld gangs and street peddlers.
This is the storyline of Steele, a play devised, written and performed by Williamstown High School students that is opening next week.
Year 9 student Zoe Davies said the idea of dangerously irresistible sweets was a way for the students to communicate a deeper message.
“The idea for Steele came from the issue of teenage substance abuse. In Arnottsville the illegal substances are the deathly cannolis, they are banned as well as other bakery treats.
“We wanted to address this issue with a twist so we decided to use cakes and pastries as the illegal substances.
“The message we are trying to get across is the dangers and risks of using these illegal substances and how it can affect the way you live and how you treat others.”
Nathan Barrett, a Year 10 student, said the play was an original creation, drawn from the imagination of the students, who pitched various ideas to the group during pre-production.
“Teachers and students had meetings and put ideas forward, then decisions were made as to which idea should be chosen.”
The students also wrote the play, taking ownership of the characters they would later bring to life on stage.
“Every line in the play is written by the actor who says it,” Zoe said.
Teacher and production leader Michael Waugh said the school had taken a different approach to their drama productions recently, and Steele was a continuation of this process.
“Last year, we took a risk with our school production. Instead of buying the rights to perform somebody else’s script, the students devised their own.
“The concept was that students had a voice in the work,’’ Zoe said.
“Rather than the school play just being a showcase of acting, singing and dancing, it was also a reflection of what the student’s wanted to say.”
Steele is on at the Altona Civic Theatre, 115 Civic Parade, Altona, from 24 to 26 August.
Tickets are available from the Pasco St Campus of Williamstown High School.
