Katoomba High School drama and dance students have turned heads at a couple of recent competitions.
At the Sharp Short Theatre competition on June 14 at Parramatta Riverside Theatre, the year 11 drama students won the Mentors Choice Award for their performance of Happiness is a Price Tag Away.
The competition recognises and celebrates young playwrights and performers, and provides an opportunity for students to write, direct and perform their own works on a professional stage while also receiving feedback from industry professionals.
Katoomba High School students performed alongside a range of schools who specialised in the performing arts such as Hunter School of Performing Arts, Oxley College, and Sydney Talent School.
The performance written by year 11 drama student Ezri Hebden-Sharp examined a consumerist-driven society where people are manipulated into buying products they do not need. Told through musical theatre, the performance included lyrics and live music developed and composed by the students, upbeat songs and dance sequences.
The award recognised the unique storytelling, style of theatre chosen and ensemble performance of the students, and it received an enthusiastic response from the audience.
Groups of Katoomba High drama and dance students will compete in a state competition after a strong performance at the recent Regional Shakespeare Carnival.
Held at Jamison High School and run by the Sport for Jove Theatre Company, students from across the state were involved in the creation of performances inspired by Shakespeare's plays.
Year 10 drama students drew acclaim with their performance of "The Pitch" and a "Film Pitch".
Not to be outdone, the year 9 dance students performed and are warming up to compete at state level for their dance performance which was inspired by Romeo and Juliet.
Katoomba High School also won the smart film category. Year 10 drama students Molly Normand and Miriam Nelson's parody of the ABC series You Can't Ask That Shakespearian edition was also performed at the state carnival competition on June 29-30 in Sydney.
