And so begins the "Blood Curse of the House of Atreus" which will continue to its end right through the life of Agamemnon and the lives of his children.
The challenge set for the drama class of 1979, was to re-tell this epic story in the form of music-theatre. As the basis, we used the script specially written for young actors by English playwright John Wiles.
During the six-week rehearsal period, students were gifted with a series of workshops and masterclasses presented by some of Adelaide's elite theatre professionals, courtesy of a generous "Schools Commisson" grant.
The workshops included: music, movement, voice, make-up, costume design and technical theatre.
This much lauded production played for a one-week season at the Mt Barker Town Hall, followed by a one-week season at the Balcony Theatre in Adelaide.
J.R Giles
Director-General Education, South Australia.
"Please accept my congratulations for the outstanding production "The Golden Masque of Agamemnon". All advances in education involve initial risk-taking. In this case I believe the risk has brought abundant recompense. I watched the performance with members oif the Performing Arts Advisory Council and the verdict was unaniumously positive and full of praise. Convey my congratulations to David Erskine, the cast and all others involved."
Garth Boomer
Chairman Performing Arts Advisory Council
For the drama students of 1980, this new venture began with extensive workshops focused on the art of mask performance and mask making. The result was the emergence of two separate plays. One based on a traditional commedia scenario. The other, an original story. And so a new performance troupe was formed.
And the audience? Schools of course. Both city and country.
Students were assigned to make contact with different schools, and a touring schedule was eventually achieved. Next issue was travel. How to get there with all the theatre props and personal luggage. Once again “Schools Commision” came to the party, providing a bus, driver and trailer to cover the whole tour.
On board:
Drama Teacher; David Erskine, a female parent, and a troupe of twelve young actors.
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At each new town we visited, we would always look for something topical to include in the show. As it happened, on the very day we arrived in Port Augusta, the first set of traffic lights in the town were activated - a matter that had attracted much controversy in the community.
Satire couldn't be served with a better topic.
As we set about improvising with ideas, one of the students from the school came up and asked if he could be part of the show. We all agreed. Neville was his name. He was aboriginal, and an excellent dancer. Then the idea came. He would paint half his face white, and choreograph his dance routine to match the alternating views as the commedia characters argued back and forth about the traffic lights.
It worked a treat.
Then, as we were about to leave, Neville came up to the bus, banged on the door and asked if he could come with us. On his shoulder was a knapsack. Next, the school principal appeared, along with Neville's mother, declaring they both agreed. For the next week and a half, Neville was part of show. How "commedia" is that!
Throughout the workshop, the group engaged deeply with the art of storytelling, exploring themes and emotions through the innovative use of masks. This unique approach allowed them to express their ideas and characters in a dynamic way, enhancing their connection to the material. Each participant contributed their own voice, drawing from personal experiences and imaginative concepts, enriching the play's narrative.
The process was not just about writing; it was an immersive experience that fostered teamwork and confidence. As the workshop progressed, the young actors learned to embrace their creativity, taking risks and experimenting with performance techniques.
The result is a play that reflects their collective spirit and individual insights, showcasing the power of collaboration in the arts.
Glen Rafferty - Stranger
David Erskine - director
Mark Clayton - Swompy
Dominic Condon - Barker
Richard Williams - Kar
3-month "Artists In Schools" program - an initiative of the South Australian Educartion Department.
