College Information & Events
24 March
With Easter fast approaching, so too is the Damascus College Final Hours production - the story of the final few hours of Jesus' life.
We thought our community would enjoy learning a little about how this unique performance first began, especially this year as we celebrate it's 30th anniversary year.
Well done to the 40+ students listed below that are part of the cast and crew, it is great to see a wide range of year levels participating.
We look forward to seeing our beautiful campus transformed for The Final Hours.
Who would have thought when a group of senior drama students at the then St. Martins in the Pines stepped up onto a small wooden platform in 1989 that they would be starting one of the college’s most memorable traditions. This year the biannual production of “The Final Hours” is back for its 16th season with a new cast and crew and a few new surprises.
This longstanding Easter tradition at Damascus began from humble beginnings with two lights and a simple raised stage in 1990. It has now grown slowly into the very complex theatrical event being produced this year.
From its humble beginnings 30 years ago this Passion play developed by director, designer Andrew Seeary has grown into a complex and technically challenging theatrical event. The performance which utilizes both interior and exterior locations around the Mt. Clear Campus involves over forty students in both acting and technical roles. The play tracks the final hours of Jesus of Nazareth before being put to death on the cross. The structure and script focus on the gritty realism and raw emotions of a range of characters that witness the event.
“It is one of the most recognizable and well-known stories of the world and it has been told for generations in so many forms” said Andrew who has been involved in the production continuously since its inception. “Like at Christmas time, Easter’s true origin is founded in an event, one that sometimes gets lost amid holidays and commercialism. The production has always been an attempt to reconnect with the true message of Easter.
One of the great joys of the performance has always been in seeing students from all year levels working as one in a great spirit of purpose and collaboration.
As we journey towards the celebration of the event’s thirtieth year, we still feel the power of this unique production. Its capacity to reflect through drama on the fundamental stories of the Christian faith still inspires and creates opportunity for reflection.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
The Damascus College motto “To Live By The light of Christ” is never better highlighted than by our commitment to “The Final Hours” production. This is the 16th season of this incredible and moving performance, portrayed with all the passion and sensitivity we have learnt to experience from a hugely talented cast of young people. This story of Jesus’ final hours on earth is the heart and essence of our Catholic faith tradition.
We are immensely proud of our reflective Easter production and I commend it to all families as a tradition that has preceded the College’s inception and is the lived expression of Catholic Christian identity.
Mr. Matthew Byrne
Please see Below the Cast & Crew List:-
Crew
Crew Coplin -Jasmine McBride, Year 12
Romany McKay, Year 12
Nick Kottulo, Year 12
Rose Spencer, Year II
Wes Carter, Year 10
Zoe Noakes, Year 9
Cendrine White, Year 9
Gemma Gale, Year 9
Aurora Mulcahy, Year 8
Aida Cater, Year 8
Cast
Narrator - Elarin Johnson, Year 10
Jesus - Charlie Norman, Year 9
Pilote - Gabriel Blake, Year 11
Pharisee - Eliza Kerslake, Year 12
1st Centurion - Caelan Mason, Year 9
2nd Centurion - Drew Smith, Year 10
Peter - Declon Eden, Year 9
Barabas - Thomas McKay, Year 12
Woman # 1 - Jessica Dechene, Year 9
Woman #2 - Liana Canfield, Year 10
Gaoler - Kiama Perry, Year 12
Husband - Brady Lucas, Year 11
Ruth - Eloise McGifford, Year 11
St. John - Georgia Newman, Year 12
Simon - Gemma Angeli , Year 12
Veronica - Zoe Newman, Year 9
Neighbor - Sage Seeary, Year 10
Woman of Jerusalem • Montana Forster, Year 12
Employee • Payton Overall, Year 12
Roman Official - William Hollit, Year 9
Mary - Amy Wells, Year 11
St. Joseph • Mikayla Montgomery, Year 11
The Crowd
Sinead Sugars, Year 11 • Caleb Inglis, Year 9 • Khyl Edward, Year 11 • Arielle Wotson, Year 12
Matlida Marlin Block, Year 11 • Lucy LeviSlon, Year 9 • Sophie Leviston, Year 11
Niomh Seore, Year 9 • Reese Watson, Year 9