Dongyun Kwon
Healesville Primary School successfully brought down the curtain of a fabulous production on 13 September.
About 200 students and 12 teachers alongside parents were involved in a part of the production, The Journey Home.
The production was based on Alison Lester’s book of the same name.
Director Fenna Hogg, a performing arts teacher at Healesville Primary School, found that the story of the book related to students.
“It’s a beautiful story about two lost children, who end up in a strange world, find their way home.” she said.
“It reflects on where the students are in the world today, especially after Covid-19.
“They are all trying to find where they fit because they missed a couple of years of social interaction.”
Collaboration with special education students from Mount Evelyn made the production much better.
“The kids were enthusiastic,” Ms Hogg said.
“They mingled with all the grades, they practiced and trained with all the students.”
Ms Hogg said she did not find preparation difficult because she worked with an enthusiastic and cooperative team.
“As a director, I found everything worked smoothly because we had such a good parent team and the teacher team,” she said.
“Everyone just trusted and supported each other.”
There were also massive contributions behind the scenes.
Sharon White managed all the sets, props and costumes.
Karen Duke was a stage manager who coordinated the stage movement of both the children and the sets.
Sharon Gellert was in the sound box and handled songs and the screen.
Principal Tracey Robertson Smith was also very supportive of the production.
“Pretty much anything we asked, she let us have,” Ms Hogg said.
Not just a supporter, the principal was also impressed by the production.
Ms Smith said she was impressed by everyone in the production.
“I loved it, I was very impressed with our students and how they performed,” she said.
“The staff and the parents have been incredible with their time and support.
“Without them, our production could not have happened.”
