I won’t lie; upon realising this was the last performance I would get to see starring the 2024 Year 12 cohort, I was pretty devastated. Over the last two years, this group of amazing theatre students have put on some of the best shows I’ve ever seen, from the hauntingly memorable Separate Dying Embers in 2022 to last year’s ridiculously good Absurd Theatre performances. Now, our graduating cohort has presented their last pieces on the QACI stage with Muse Unchained, a collection of acts alternating between comedic, heartbreaking, and mildly terrifying, providing a variety not unlike the range of shows we’ve had the privilege of attending over the course of their QACI journey.
QACI Theatre is characterised by its quality, and Muse was no exception. The visuals for each and every performance were stunning, and it is clear students and staff put a lot of thought and effort into set pieces and lighting for each scene. Each story was communicated flawlessly to its audience, even in performances where communication relied on gesture and action, and where set pieces were particularly selective, like How to Build a Taco (by Nicola, Amelie, and Cleo) and ‘Hold Fast...’ (by Varuna and Ciara). Sound and music were also key, maintaining the emotion of each scene and engaging viewers – Beth and Holly’s lip-synced rendition of ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ by Cyndi Lauper in their piece, ‘You Love Me?’ and the inclusion of Childish Gambino’s ‘Me and your Mama’ in Helen, James, and Neve’s ‘Quack!’ were some of the most entertaining moments for me personally.
Of course, no piece would have been half as good without the effortlessly captivating characters crafted and presented by each and every actor. Stickie’s (by Porscha, Nayl, Finley, and Mitchell) and Spilled Milk (by Gisella, Brydie, Sophia, and Ashlee) in particular featured riveting quartets whose slightly violent tendencies, plotlines and (implied) deaths made them all the more enthralling to watch. Notable also for its delightfully attention-grabbing plotline was Love’s Last Petal (by Casper, Lucie, Zoe, Anni and Jemah), which cleverly utilised sound and lighting to provide visually chaotic and eye-catching scenes. “By being given full creative license, we were able to experiment and play with the most interesting and creative ideas, which was incredible,” commented Beth Prior, one of the many amazing performers of the night.
“It was brilliant! Peak of Year 12 theatre so far.” – Caitlin Stolte, Year 12.
Clearly, audiences loved Muse, as I’m sure they’ve loved all of this Year 12 cohort’s performances. There was something truly special about getting to see all these actors at their absolute best, with projects they were clearly proud of and had been allowed a lot of creative freedom with. Ava and Finn’s Mince’d, for instance, was a wonderfully entertaining watch because of its quirky, unpredictable storytelling. The Gurt Gambit (by Jess, Tommy, Georgie, Phoebe and Connor) also charmingly explored dynamics between characters through a compelling, imaginative narrative. These performances were made even more enjoyable by their sheer uniqueness.
Overall, Muse Unchained provided yet another wonderful experience for the QACI community and was a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the talents of our Theatre students and staff. Thank you to all you incredible performers for not only two nights, but for the countless hours of effort and passion you’ve showed us through your work across your IB journey. And of course, thank you to Mr. Jennings, Ms. Hague, and the Tech Team for making it all possible.
Article written by Rian Castilla Franco, Year 12