Afraa Kori
Williamstown students Excelsior Maze Madden and Indy Readsmith will take to the stage for their first Victorian State School Spectacular (VSSS) as principal vocalists.
This annual creative extravaganza has two shows scheduled for Saturday, September 14 at John Cain Arena, from 1pm and 6.30pm.
“As someone who grew up going to see the spectacular, it’s always been a goal of mine and it feels so unbelievable to finally be a part of it,” Indy said.
The VSSS will present a grand performance by a cast and crew of 3000 government school students, including dancers, vocalists, orchestra musicians and circus artists.
This year’s show, Splash, was inspired by a theme suggested by the cast. It will portray a little girl’s dream sequence, sailing across the seas, exploring rivers, and delving into life above and beneath the waves, right down to the microscopic world of a drop of dew.
This performance is brimming with music, dance, circus arts, puppetry and poetry, exploring the world of water and our place in it. It will demonstrate that, although oceans can divide us, they can also connect us.
“To make a ‘Splash’ is to make an impact. It’s the freedom to be your authentic self, to be proud of who you are and what you bring to the stage,” Excelsior said.
Indy said there theme really spoke to her.
“Growing up in Williamstown and living by the beach, my love for the water is equally as strong as my love for singing. The show is such an adventure through so many environments, and the feelings we associate with them, such as happiness and joy, but also reflection and contemplation. The show is so vibrant this year, and I get the opportunity to explore lots of different themes and ideas, which I think has really pushed me as a performer and allowed for a lot of personal growth too,” she said.
Through their performance, Indy and Excelsior aim to leave a lasting impact on their community, particularly the younger generation.
“As a year 12 in the show, you have to realise the role you play in encouraging younger generations, and just remind them that their dreams are so valid and realistic, because it happened for everybody else! The younger student’s energy is so incredible and really can carry the times where rehearsals are getting a bit stressful and tiring. I hope a little girl in the audience will watch the performance like I did 13 years ago and pursue singing, and see them on stage in another 13 years time,” Indy said.
