More than 200 St Spyridon College students staged a mesmerising play titled “In this
Strange
Land
- Exile and Refuge”, on 15th and 16th of May at St Spyridon Church hall, Kingsford.
The huge production featured students from year five to twelve who enthralled an audience of hundreds over two days, transporting them back to the early days of Greek migration to
Australia
.
“Our intention was to deliver more than just entertainment. We wanted the audience to re-live the journey of migrants from the time they first arrived in an unfamiliar country leaving their family and friends, to the time when they finally came to see
Australia
as their home. The incredible stories of their hardships and achievements motivated us to execute this ambitious plan,” said Mrs Mary Faletas, who conceptualised, scripted and directed the production.
The audience experienced a mixture of emotions as they empathised with the characters, and laughed with the well- executed humorous anecdotes. “We are very satisfied with the results of the play. These students have amazing talent and confidence. Without their hard work, this massive production would not have been possible ” added Mrs Faletas.
The school’s decision to donate the proceeds of the play to Radiomarathon- a charity that helps kids with physical and mental disabilities, has added another dimension to the success of the production.
“I congratulate everyone involved in this production for their dedication and hard work”, said Spiro Kanellakis, Marketing Manager of Laiki Bank, which organises Radiomarathon. “I would also like to thank St Spyridon for truly believing in the worthy cause of Radiomarathon and making this generous contribution. With events like this, we can expand the Radiomarathon Community and work more effectively towards making a difference to these kids’ lives” he added.
In 2007, Radiomarathon
Australia
raised more than $355,000 for children with special needs, as part of an overall total of $6.1 million raised by Radiomarathon activities worldwide. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.radiomarathon.org.au
