Drama teacher interview with Anne-Marie Barnes

Interview with Anne-Marie Barnes, Drama teacher at Mandurah Catholic College

What made you decide on drama teaching as a career?
I have always been interested in performing arts. I loved drama at school; I found it enjoyable, different and creative. I think for me teaching has always been something I wanted to do. I wanted to be able to allow others to have the similar and even better experiences that I myself had.  

How many students do you teach drama to and how many of those would be sitting the drama examination?
At Mandurah Catholic College we run the drama programme from year 9 through to year 12. At the present time we have seventy students enrolled. With twenty-seven students involved in the new Drama Course of Study, seven of which are sitting the new exam this year.

You recently asked Black Swan to coordinate a series of workshops at your school. What do you think your students enjoyed about the experience of engaging with professional artists?
I believe that they thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the workshops. It was an extremely rewarding experience for them as they listened and participated in awe with the professional artists, who actually are involved in the art scene at the present moment in time. The students were able to ask many questions about the workshop but even in relation to performing arts and becoming involved. Not only did they learn and witness examples of the artists work but they were able to participate and offer their own perspective.

What is your most memorable moment as a teacher?
For me it is always changing, but I believe it is when you are able to see the students really begin to utilise the concepts for themselves. That acknowledgement that they finally understand makes it all worth it.