The Lucky Country
Professional Development: Understanding IA2 – Dramatic Concept
Drama Queensland is excited to announce that registrations are now open for a curated professional development opportunity designed for you to gain a better understanding of the teaching of the new IA2 – Dramatic Concept. The content of the learning in the workshop will be suitable to be applied to IA2 task in Unit 3: Challenge and, for our alternative sequence friends, Unit 1: Share.
Firstly, join Drama Queensland at the Powerhouse on Friday 24th October to meet other drama teachers, grab a drink at the bar and then see the critically acclaimed new musical The Lucky Country. With an original score, the show pays homage to some of Australia’s all-time greats (think Baker Boy, Jimmy Barnes, Kylie, The Seekers, Electric Fields and more), this 65-minute mixtape of Aussie stories is a widely entertaining joyride that digs deep into the themes of identity and belonging. Featuring an ensemble of six outstanding performers and a five-piece band (including yidaki), The Lucky Country is a fresh, funny, and heartfelt celebration of who we can be as Australians. After the show, meet with the cast & engaged in a special Q&A with co-creator and performer Vidya Makan (Hamilton, SIX) to gain insight into the creative process behind the show and creating theatre that make social comment.
Then on the Saturday morning, join Scott Andrews (Drama Queensland President) and the director and co-creator of The Lucky Country, Sonya Suares (dir: Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods), at Churchie for a half-day workshop. Participants will use their viewing of the performance as inspiration to create an exemplar IA2. During the workshop, Scott & Sonya will take you through a series of practical and written exercises scaffolding the devising process. A highlight of the workshop will be Sonya leading a session and sharing her expertise on writing original song lyrics and creating a moment of dramatic action drawing on a range of conventions. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the requirement of IA2, a structure to share with students, a list of possible conventions for students to draw on, a set by step approach to administering the IA2 task, and a full IA2 exemplar which you will create during the workshop! Morning tea will be provided.
Friday 24th October @ Powerhouse
6:00pm Meet & Greet + the bar will be open for purchasing drinks
7:00pm Ticket to The Lucky Country
8:15pm Meet the cast + Q&A with Vidya Makan
Saturday 25th October @ Churchie
8:30am – 9:30am Sign on + the café will open for purchasing coffee
9:00am – 11:00am Workshop Part 1 with Scott Andrews & Sonya Suares
11:00am – 11:30am Morning Tea provided
11:30am – 1:30pm Workshop Part 2 with Scott Andrews & Sonya Suares
Performance & Masterclass for DQ Member Price - $205.5
Performance & Masterclass for Non-Member Price - $308
Please note that the registration numbers for this professional development are strictly capped. Registration will also close on Monday 15th September if not sold out prior.
Vidya Makan
“A living example of what’s possible when talent meets truth. A trailblazer” (The Seed Network). Vidya Makan is one of Australia’s most exciting multi-hyphenates in the entertainment industry. Not only is she one of Australia’s most in demand leading ladies in musical theatre, she is also an award-winning composer/lyricist. Vidya is perhaps most well known for her groundbreaking performance as Eliza Hamilton in Hamilton (Michael Cassel Group) which earned her Timeout Sydney Critic’s Choice Award for Best Performance In A Musical. She has also delivered award nominated performances as Ruby Patel in Bloom (Sydney Theatre Company), Catherine Parr in SIX (Louise Withers) and Dot/Marie in Sunday In The Park With George (Watch This) to name a few. Vidya’s debut original musical The Lucky Country opened to rave reviews with Hayes Theatre in 2023. The original cast album is currently available on all streaming platforms, and has been released with Origin Records. Vidya is currently developing a musical about the every day lives of South Asian Australians with Queensland Theatre, among other exciting projects.
Sonya Suares
Sonya is an award-winning performer, director, writer, producer and arts activist. An honours graduate of Melbourne University and WAAPA’s Music Theatre degree, she has led companies, campaigns and festivals for more than two decades, including founding Australia's acclaimed Sondheim repertory company, Watch This. She works consistently on new Australian writing with peak organisations like Belvoir Street Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre Company, Polyglot Theatre, Lonely Company, Antipodes Theatre, The People and Hayes Theatre Company. Alongside her creative practice, Sonya is a passionate equity and justice advocate, championing artists of colour and marginalised communities in large and small ways. In 2023, Sonya received the ASAC Stellar Women Award for Arts & Culture and was an APOC Community Champion Finalist in recognition of her body of work. See www.sonyasuares.com
Scott Andrews
Scott is the Drama Queensland President. He has served on the management committee for 7 years and has held the previous positions of committee member, Vice-President Communications and Vice-President Professional Development. Scott is a proud QUT B.CI (Drama) and B.ED (Secondary) graduate. He is the Head of Department - Drama at Churchie and, has 20 years teaching experience including Drama, English, and International Baccalaureate Theatre. Scott has previously co-presented drama teaching professional development workshops including: An Introduction to Absurdism, Hallow Creek and the External Exam Potluck. Scott is currently extensively involved with QCAA processes including as a lead endorser, confirmer, EA marker, a subject matter expert and was previously a QCAA panellist.