Claire Jenkins couldn’t pass up the opportunity for one last production with ASPIRE, even while taking on multiple HSC major works.
“ASPIRE means a lot to me … it really sparked my love for creative arts and doing it for so long I think I do have quite a love for the community it creates,” she said.
“I don’t think I would have stepped into the creative arts world if I hadn’t done ASPIRE.”
ASPIRE is a creative and performing arts program within the Newcastle and Maitland Catholic School Diocese that has been collaborating with students to produce original theatre productions for 15 years.
Claire, of St Francis Xavier College, is one of the few year 12 students given permission to participate this year, as performers typically participate in ASPIRE for seven years, from year five to year 11.
“Because I auditioned in year 6, I am now doing it in year 12 … I had to get permission from (ASPIRE’s artistic director) Anna Kerrigan, I had to get permission from my parents, and I also had to get permission from my principal,” she said.
Claire is a hard-working student, taking on a full work load in her HSC. She has chosen subjects such as visual arts, music, and entertainment, as well as mandatory religion and English classes.
HSC trials are starting just one week after ASPIRE for Claire, meaning it will be difficult for her to receive any last-minute feedback on major works from her teachers.
“I won’t be at school to finish a lot of my art pieces, I won’t be at school to have my music teacher help me with some of my performances,” Claire said.
“I was very happy to do [ASPIRE] again this year, even though that meant maybe not doing as well as I possibly could in the trials.”
She first auditioned as a year six student encouraged by her choir teacher who was the vocal ensemble director for ASPIRE, and said it was “absolutely terrifying.”
ASPIRE has a tradition where every student who participates for the full seven years receives a commemorative t-shirt, the coveted ‘seven-year shirt’.
“Of course, I didn’t go into it in year six thinking I want that seven-year shirt, but I did it this year, and I was like ‘oh my god, I get a seven-year shirt this year, that’s awesome’.”
Claire said that while her family didn’t appear overly creative on the surface (her mum is a paediatric pharmacist, and her dad a computer programmer), there was always music on in the house.
“We’re not outwardly very artsy, but my mum and I love musicals, we’ll often sit down and watch musicals together.” she said.
Claire is a soloist in ASPIRE’s vocal ensemble for this year’s original production of Scrambled.
Scrambled follows a student who has lost their memory. In the process of discovering who they are, they find things aren’t quite right and set out to become the best version of themselves.
Claire hopes to pursue a career in the creative arts after leaving high school, although she may need a break from study to recover from such a busy schedule.
“I want to have a gap year next year and make some money,” she said.
“I’ve also considered going somewhere like London and working in the West End, big dream, but it would be fun.
Claire said artistic director Anna Kerrigan was a great inspiration.
“Anna’s been a big part of the journey, she’s always been very welcoming, very lovely, she’s been a big inspiration, she works so hard every year to just put the show together,” she said.
Ms Kerrigan has watched Claire grow from a child who’s “not really sure” into a true performer.
“Claire really embodies the message of ‘we’re a team, we’re a collaboration’ and she’s such a collaborative member of the ensemble,” Ms Kerrigan said.
“One of the most beautiful things about Claire is watching the way she’s become a real leader within the group.”
This year, about 160 students from across the diocese are involved in every aspect from ASPIRE, from the writing process, to performance, and stage production.
ASPIRE’s production of Scrambled will be performed at the Civic Theatre on Wednesday, July 29, with five shows before closing on the following Saturday.
This article has been taken from the Newcastle Herald.
