The Addams Family 2023 – All Saints College

Lurch and the Ancestors – Tyson Neill and the ancestors 💀

The 2023 college production was the Addams Family. This one event changed my life for the better. Here is my little story about the lovely journey I made from the start to finish of the production.

In my junior school years, I worked on Animal Farm. I was involved with the tech side of things. I worked and did the microphones for the actors with the help of my superiors. As I was young and impressionable, these big senior school actors were amazing role models. I really looked up to the cast and I learnt little things on how to be a better person. When the production was over, I told myself the next time I was involved with a production, I’d be on the stage.

Fast forward to 2022, I heard that the production was going to be the Addams Family. I’m not the most shy person out there, but doing a college production was a big step out of my comfort zone (keyword was, I wish I got into acting earlier). I got told that I’d be a good Lurch by a couple teachers, and as I am familiar with the show, I thought that too. I wasn’t going to audition, but then I realised that there were no other tall and handsome gentlemen that could be Lurch. So, ignoring all the nervousness, I auditioned. I got the role instantly, I didn’t even need to do anything. I showed up and Ms. Parker was sold. And so began the long and arduous road to becoming an actor.

The first month or two of rehearsals were rough. I was trying to act cool and standoffish but I quickly realised that I couldn’t, due to my interesting dancing skills and the fact that I needed to become one with the cast. Pushing through the embarrassment, I tried my hardest at every rehearsal, striving to improve and to fit in. I was familiar with the ensemble, but I didn’t personally know anyone all that well. I put myself out there and I started talking to people; best choice I could have made. Over the production I gained many friends, hopefully life long.

The weeks rolled by and all of a sudden I was a month out from the production. This is when it got serious. My acting and singing improved exponentially, increasing all the way up until the last performance. I was extremely excited the whole time and I couldn’t wait to perform.

The Addams Family Pre Show/Opening – Tyson Neill, ft. Thing 🖐🏻

David opens the doors for me. I walk out into the darkness of the CPA. I walk onto the stage. Slowly, I turn and look out into the crowd. “Ugghhhhhhhhh…” I slowly scan the crowd, then turn and focus on the piano. I walk over. Ever so slowly. I stand and mount the piano. At a snail’s pace, I neatly tidy my tail coat and lower myself down. I extend my hands out and begin the pre show…

Move Towards The Darkness (solo) – Tyson Neill 🎤

… “My son, you are a true Addams” – Gomez. lights cut, piano plays. I run up the stairs. I find center on the bridge. Spotlight on. I take a deep breath, and start singing “🎵 move toward the darkness! 🎵” …

These two moments are my key takeaways. I was the first and last character seen, as I entered and began the preshow, and when I slowly walked off at the end. I was also the last character to sing a solo. These two moments were huge as I was a newbie actor (and singer), delivering the first and final blows of the production. I was so extremely nervous as I waited for my cue to sing my song. The first time I sung it I nearly tripped over the staircase on the way up. The last time I sung it I poured my passion into it and I didn’t sound half bad.

So that concludes my Addams Family story. I loved every second of it and I will never forget it. I hope that acting opportunities present themselves to me in the future and that I have the courage to pursue them.

If you are reading this as a fresh senior school student in year 7 or 8, I encourage you to do drama. I always thought that drama was weird, and to be honest, it is. But not weird in the way I thought it was. Sure there are some questionable vocal warmups, were you invent new sounds, but this is all part of the weird and wonderful beauty of the acting world. The moments that make you laugh, the silly things you do and the people you talk to and interact with, are all part of the amazing experience. The friends I’ve made during my time mean the world to me. The Addams family truly are family.

I’ll leave you with a quote, taken from my song.

“Move towards the darkness, welcome the unknown.” – Tyson Neill and the Addams Family 🖤
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Outdoor Ed Camp

Camp. Always a great time. This camp was amazing because, on top of taking all of our stuff, we had to navigate ourselves. I love being able to show off what I’ve learnt in class, and this was the perfect time.

My teamwork and leadership skills were put to the test, as I had to co captain with Daniel and direct the class. The next day it was shared, so we had to work together as a team. We kept communication up both times, and we succeeded without fail.

Best part was dinner and afterwards. Dinner time was awesome. Josh and I (we were dinner partners) made the best stir fry we’ve ever had. After dinner we had a night navigation challenge. In my group, James, Josh and me, we heard a bird call. For a minute we got spooked cause it sounded creepy.

I had a blast and I am looking really forward to the white water kayaking camp next semester!

the group 😤😤
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English Task 7

Wheel of capabilities

Using the wheel of capabilities I have chosen creativity, leadership and collaboration for this post.

In English, my learning abilities have been tested again and again. One of the many skills in educational tool box that had seen the most wear and tear is my creativeness. I used my creative thinking to aid in my task 6 assessment, to create a play on a social issue. The task was challenging as I had never written a play before, but it did not worry me. I had decided to write my play on the Tiananmen Square protests. During the play writing, I researched the harmful events that unfolded in Tiananmen Square. My research had gone so far that I had researched extra topics just so I could better understand the situation. My hard work was greeted with a terrific play and performance.

In my first group for the project, we decided to choose COVID as our social issue. It was going well, with me doing most of the work. I was demonstrating great leadership, coming up with ideas, distributing roles and organising my group members. When it was apparent that they did not care about the task, so I sought out another group.

As soon as I joined the other group, we were met with a problem. There weren’t enough characters. Using my collaboration skills, I quickly came up with more characters and helped my new group perfect their script. I added a father and a soldier to the play, which were key characters and helped develop the story.

Looking back, I’m glad I switched groups, as they were making me do all the work without helping me. I’m happy they put my name on my script as well.

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Design and Technology

In design and technology my class made LED trophies. This project enticed my classmates and I to engage with our creative and problem solving skills.

Personally I went with a slimmer and smaller trophy than the example. I used Jarrah wood for the frame because of its amazing colour and grain, and clear acrylic for the bottom plate, so light would shine through giving it under glow. For the design I chose a symbol and I inverted it, so it would look as it does in real life.

One problem I encountered, was using the file. I had to file a hole for my acrylic block, and if I went over it would just slip though, instead of having a fixed position. Unfortunately I filed it too much, and I had a problem. Using my problem solving skills, I got some glue, clamped my project to the bench and stuck it in.

Overall, this LED trophy was a great way to use my creative and problem solving skills. I really enjoyed the design and making processes.

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MUIR in Outdoor Education

For subject selection in year 10, I chose Muir. Muir is named after Jon Muir, who received the Australian Geographic Society Lifetime of Adventure Award which is awarded to recognise those who have lived a life of exploration and adventure, but who have also given back to others. Muir was designed to entail the skills Jon Muir used in his adventures. These skills include Snorkelling, Orienteering and Archery. Inside these fun activities we are also building on core skills like how to organise effectively, personal preparation, time management, team work and leadership.

Snorkelling

This was great fun with my friends. We had to be aware of our surroundings as to not damage the environment, which is a great lesson. We saw fish, stingrays and an octopus. We had to be organised for everything: wetsuit, fins and snorkel because if we forgot, we couldn’t snorkel.

Orienteering

The best. So much fun. It is so good just to run around in the bush, finding your own way with friends. We had a blast using a map and racing against other groups. We had to put our time management to the test, because if you spent too long looking for a marker, you would run out of time.

Archery

A great experience with Mary. I nailed 3 balloons and some very high scores. The technique was the main factor of accuracy. Because I didn’t have long arrows, it was a little hard but I enjoyed it because we had independence.

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Leadership and Teamwork

Year 9 camp was the best! A week in Kalbarri, hiking and eating whatever we could carry, we had a great time. My group was a great mix of people that I sort of knew, but weren’t my best friends. Because of this, I made a bunch more friends.

On our camp, I learnt/built on a lot more than just teamwork and leadership. For example, we were really good with our waste and we recycled most of our stuff.

the bus ride to the sky walk

I believe that teamwork (and leadership) are some of the many important skills required in life. The literal meaning of teamwork is the combined action of a group, especially when effective and efficient. I applied this many times of camp, as most of our activities required teamwork. We played a game of volleyball with tarps and had to work together to serve the ball.

My tent partner was Song, who had never been camping before. Over the week I taught him some cool camping tricks and helped him out. This was a great example of my leadership on camp.

self modelling career (nature’s window)

I remember my camp leaders, Vicky and Mr. K, commenting on my leadership when we were hiking out of 4 ways, because I kept pointing out little things and making sure our whole group were alright.

Leadership is a very important skill, yet there can’t be leadership without teamwork, because with no team there is nothing to lead, but without a leader, teams can fall apart.

nature’s window group photo

My group worked very well as a team,because of the great teamwork we skills developed. We set up our tents in groups, made and ate food in groups, cleaned up, lead and organised in groups. These opportunities helped us to learn; patience when we were putting up the tents, initiative when preparing food, communication when cooking the food, organisation and helping others when leading and helping our groups.

The group situation that we were put in, gave us opportunities to lead the team, and even the adults, gave us incredible opportunities to improve our leadership and teamwork skills.

Overall, I reckon Camp Kalbarri was a great experience to learn and have fun in a lovely place with good friends.

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Year 9 English Podcast

For english we were tasked to create a podcast on our chosen subject. My partner and I chose to do it on why a video game should be banned (Duck Season VR).

Our poster for our podcast

Luke and I decided to take a fun approach and we did it using over exaggerated voices and clips from Youtube videos. I think that this was one of the best English projects I’ve ever done.

Why Duck Season VR is cursed – by Tyson and Luke
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Dear Year 8 Me

Dear Year 8 me,

If you could do anything different than what you have already done, than do it. Anything could be better than the year you have had. For instance, you could have done a better job on your Salvation Army VR Tour*. However it was fun to do it since you learned a lot. I also guess this was/is the biggest contribution to the school since we got an article on ClassVR and publicity. YOU BETTER DO GOOD ON IT.

Camp. Best. Time. Ever. It was so good because Lumber Egg was born. And we got to do a Survivor Mega Wall, which was easy/hard because we are tall. We found a real old coin. THAT WASN’T PUT THERE… I’ll admit the final dinner was crap but that didn’t ruin the whole thing at all.

If I could change anything I would change Innovat[ED]. 1, the worst subject. 2, waste of 2 periods. 3, boring. 4, spellt wrong. And finally 5, there wasn’t anything really appealing to teenagers. Make it more interesting or wipe it of the face of the Time Table.

Ok, Advice time. I’m not going to pretend that I’m an intellectual, (big surprise, I’m not) but remember to study. The amount of homework decreases (in some cases) but the need to study increases! Little and often/Study lightly, then play hard.

 

* I’m just saying this because I know you are behind a lot, but I haven’t seen the finished product myself.

 

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