For Lula Peebles one of the highlights of her schooling has been her involvement in ASPIRE.
It began when she was in Year 5 and has continued until this year as a Year 11 student at St Joseph’s Catholic College, Aberdeen.
“I have loved the stage since before I started school and I still love drama and studying the subject this year has been fantastic,” she said.
“Each year being part of the ASPIRE productions has been absolutely wonderful.”
Her commitment to the program has been recognised with Lula being given the coveted “7-year shirt” for students who have not missed the opportunity to be in ASPIRE every year. This is her final year.
Every year, the ASPIRE team creates an original production through which students can audition to be a part of dance, design, drama, vocal, stage band and production ensembles.
This year’s ASPIRE production of “Scrambled” will be the program’s 15th and is a very special production as it involves all 58 Catholic schools across the Maitland Newcastle Diocese.
While still in primary school at home town of Merriwa Lula wrote a play for the Junior Theatre Makers that was performed at the Civic Playhouse in Newcastle with support from the ASPIRE program.
In this year’s production she will be part of the drama ensemble.
To ease the travel burden for Upper Hunter students the families involved often carpool during weeks of rehearsals and the week of the production in Newcastle.
Now fast approaching the end of her schooling Lula is starting to look to the future and no it does not involve the stage but rather training to become a paramedic.
Given her years of involvement with ASPIRE she wanted to pay a special tribute to Anna Kerrigan the artistic director for all her encouragement and support.
Meanwhile, Lula and all those involved in this year’s production are preparing for the opening matinee performance on Wednesday, July 29 at the Civic Theatre. There are five performances of “Scrambled”.
Tickets are available from the Civic Theatre website and box office
