2019 Middle School Production of Aladdin
Our Kristin Auditorium was transported from Albany to Agrabah, bringing Disney’s Aladdin Jr. to the stage for our 2019 Middle School Production. Once again, Kristin’s reputation of high-quality theatre allowed our school to be one of the first in Australasia to stage this newly adapted edition of the Disney classic.
Over 160 Middle School students proudly participated in this flagship Performing Arts event, either as a cast or crew member. The skills and confidence they have gained through this process are greater than any wish a Genie could grant. All students involved deserve hearty congratulations for their dedication and energy over the rehearsal and production period.
Flying carpets, onstage transformations of street rats to Princes, a golden cave of wonders and magical illusions made Aladdin Jr one of our most ambitious Middle School Productions yet. Fabric and trims sourced in London and props found in Moroccan marketplaces added to the spectacle our audiences were treated to for three performances. Bringing a show of this scale to the stage involved an enormous amount of generosity and support from the Kristin community, and I wish to acknowledge the collective efforts of these parents, alumni and staff, as well as our exceptionally talented Production Team for bringing the vision to life so beautifully.
For only the second time in Middle School Production history, extra Mezzanine seats were released to accommodate over 1,600 audience members who wished to experience the extravaganza of Aladdin Jr. “Fantastic colours and energy”, “A wonderfully fast moving and entertaining show” and “it was such a professional show, with lots of emerging talent” were among the glowingly positive reviews received following the show. Production photos were shared with Musical Theatre Australia (who licensed Kristin to perform this production) and collaborators on the Junior version of Aladdin from iTheatrics in New York, all of whom could not believe a production of such quality was produced by a school.
More importantly, however, were the affirmations that the process has positively inspired and instilled confidence and self-belief in so many students, bringing students from across year groups together to celebrate without boundaries. This is, in my opinion, the true gift of theatre at Kristin.
Hamish Mouat
Artistic Director of Major Productions
