Ex-Surf Coast Secondary students return for long-awaited Addams production

TWO former students have picked up where they left off to run their long-awaited Year 12 production five months later than originally planned.

Ex-Surf Coast Secondary Students, now in first year university, Maya Supple and Charlotte Polwarth were originally meant to direct their rendition of The Addams Family in September and October of 2021.

However, due to lockdowns and COVID-19 restrictions, Ms Supple and Ms Polwarth made the return to school grounds to finish what they started as first-year university students instead of Year 12 students.

The production was held at the start of March at Wurdi Baeirr Stadium, with tombstones and dead trees lining the stage for the performances.

“Our production was a bit of a twist on the original TV show and its adaptations,” Ms Supple said.

“It is centred around the character Wednesday Addams and her challenges growing older and getting engaged.

“The production also highlights how the family interacts with one another, particularly through the family’s conflicts.”

The production took its early steps in 2020 when it was first cast. From there, the school’s performing arts teachers approached both Ms Supple and Ms Polwarth to take the reins, and the young women graciously accepted the offer.

Ms Polwarth, currently undertaking a Bachelor of Music and Musical Theatre in Melbourne, saw the production as a great way to shape her pathway into the future.

“I starred in my first ever production back in Year 7, the first one at Surf Coast Secondary College, and from there I have done five years since with Geelong Society of Operatic and Dramatic Arts, which is where I’ve grown my skills on the stage. But the opportunity to direct a production has been a great experience, specifically for what I want to do moving forward.”

The Addams Family production last week featured students from Year 7 all the way up to Year 12, taking on the roles of the stars and the ensemble through to the backstage helpers – a true team effort from top to bottom.

“The whole experience has been amazing,” Ms Supple added.

“I’ve always said I loved Surf Coast Secondary because of the teachers and the students here, so coming back and seeing all of my teachers and some of the friends I’ve made along the way, it’s been a really lovely experience, I’m glad to have been able to be a part of this.”

Both directors said they would love nothing more than to return to Surf Coast Secondary again and lead another production.