Sacred Fire is a theatre production initiated by The Daramalan Theatre Company. Thirty-four students from years 8 to 12 attended a five day intensive camp at Caloola Farm in April of this year. They worked with seven teachers and a former Daramalan Principal, Father Denis Uhr, to investigate the legacy of Father Jules Chevalier and apply it to theatre. But the work goes further than a respectable community theatre piece.

The result may be the most surprising presentation ever seen at the school ... and one unlikely to be repeated ... at least in the near future ...

Check out the promotional video:

Considering perceptions of Catholic schools from within the general public, the production is certainly going to challenge and revise what might be expected from an institution like Daramalan.

The play considers the effect of the French Revolution on religion and society to the present day. It frames the context through which Jules Chevalier acted to establish the MSC order ... this same order which owns and operates Daramalan College. The play asks for consideration of how we see the world now in a contemporary context. It presents a constant dialectic between the forces of the Enlightenment and established religious perceptions of the time ... and what may still be evident today. Audiences may find the work instructive, confronting and challenging depending on their viewpoints. But the work is also a show and, in that sense, it aims to be highly entertaining!

Students and staff have given up two holiday weeks and many week-ends and afternoons to develop a highly charged theatrical work that involves:

The production was assisted by Shane Jones from NIDA. He gave students and staff a valuable critique of the work and ran an exciting workshop on professional performance techniques.

Daramalan Theatre Company has gone all out to produce a most engaging and compelling night of entertainment and hopefully provide some spiritual nourishment for both participants and audience members. It builds on years of developing techniques to enhance the skills and approaches of young performers.

The play is dedicated to Fr James Long MSC.

October 26-29

Mc Cowage Hall

Daramalan College