The 2023 Chronicle

artists Bambo Sibiya, Blessing Ngobeni, Nandipha Mntambo and Mbali Tshabalala. The Art School continued to be a safe place for boys to relax and try new skills. We had six boys learning how to weld, two boys joined us for extramural drawing lessons and a handful of boys spent their downtime exploring how art can help them emotionally reconnect with themselves through the introduction of basic art therapy techniques.

A dream of adding the digital to the Art School took substance as Michael Kimber, an intern, joined us in the D Block. He brought with him vast skill in computer graphics, and made inroads into developing a very exciting course that links boys to cutting-edge advancements in the field as well as opening up networking opportunities for the boys worldwide. We look forward to seeing this grow in substance in 2024.

In a nutshell, this has been a fruitful year.

DRAMATIC ARTS

Head of Department: Asha Royappen Staff: William Le Cordeur

enjoyed by the masses.

This year we studied the plays Nothing but the Truth and Bent . Both challenged our perspectives of what we know. Transporting us to early apartheid and Nazi-ruled Germany, respectively, these plays taught us about philosophy, injustice and sympathy. On a more practical side, Mrs Royappen challenged us with scenes in styles that we were not used to and not our specialties, broadening our skills as actors. Highlights from the classroom would be the laid-back but informative and eye-opening conversations and sweat and tear-filled rehearsals. The school performed the play Urinetown , which was a favourite amongst the boys for its whimsical story and engaging songs. As the matrics said heart-warming goodbyes to the stage of the Schlesinger Theatre, the play was a fitting way to conclude their school-theatre careers. Later in the year, an interhouse play competition was hosted in the Schlesinger Theatre, showcasing the boys’ acting skills and creativity when given a script generated by ChatGPT. This also showed the limitations for AI as a replacement for human creativity and emotions. One of the most engaging and effective ways to learn and grow as artists is by watching and learning from others. The boys were taken out on multiple excursions and tours in the area and across the country. Very notable was the epic Caucasian Chalk Circle and its unique style of storytelling that is still recalled as an example of Brecht theatre. The Hilton Arts Festival allowed the boys to witness local talent and stories, and made for a captivating experience. By far the most memorable experience was the Drama Tour to Cape Town. Being one of the cultural hubs of South Africa, art was depicted in all forms not limited to stage but extending to art galleries and museums detailing our country’s complex past. There were upwards of ten theatrical experiences, and memories of a lifetime were made. 2023 was a great year for Drama. In and outside the classroom, performance art is experiencing a surge in popularity and engagement. However, this is only the start. 2024 already has many projects lined up, and is likely to be even bigger, better and more extravagant than 2023. That said, I know that the boys will be forever grateful for the opportunities that Michaelhouse has given us by exposing us to what was once a niche subject and is now a staple in our school and country.

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his year began with the bar set high as the matric results of 2022 were outstanding. We are extremely proud of the class of 2022. An incredible eight distinctions out of a class of 11 is certain to keep the pressure on for the A Block of 2023, with five boys achieving results in the 90s. Two of our boys placed in the top 1% in the country, with Letlotlo Sekatle achieving a resounding 99% and Xihluke Marhule 97%. There is never a dull moment in the Dramatic Arts Department. The passion and eagerness of the boys is infectious and gratifying, since it is the boys’ creative spirits that lead to the creation of superb and novel performances. Two B Block boys who are soon entering matric will describe their experience for you: SETH SEGAL, B BLOCK Drama is not a subject, it is a way of life. The one period where the mind and soul can take a breath. As a B Block drama student who has been a part of the class since E Block, I have found Drama to be my most consistently relaxing and enjoyable subject. Class discussions range from the philosophies and texts of our syllabus to current social issues and the class’s opinion on them. The first words ma’am ever told us were, “This class is a safe space,” and that has remained true throughout the past four years, allowing for mature and insightful conversation. On the practical side of things, we engage in numerous exercises to gain a physical understanding of the art. From clowning to Laban’s theory of movement, we cover a vast range of truly enjoyable techniques. Drama is a diverse and enjoyable art which opens the mind, exercises the body and relaxes the soul. Truly a class worth taking. KIAN MOSES, B BLOCK Over the years, Drama has evolved from a niche subject used to get an “easy A” (not true, by the way) into a well- rounded subject cherished by the school and more. Larger and more diverse classrooms give way to challenging and critical conversations fuelled by different perspectives. A boom in the interest for theatre gives way to eager students to create on stage, and a post-Covid world allows theatre to be more easily

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