Black Stump 2009: In Retrospect
Rain and mud has always been a feature of Black Stump and this year was no exception! Wesley Institute’s students and alumni battled the adverse weather conditions to perform to hundreds of people at the Black Stump Christian music and arts festival over the October long weekend.
Lumi Theatre, featuring alumni Hailey McQueen, Sarah Farmer and Naomi Stewart, performed their high-quality physical theatre show Espresso. One Sugar, switching characters and scenes and integrating acrobatics to great effect.
Drama alumnus Samantha Freestone and Music alumnus Alison op de Veigh were both featured speakers for Stump, with Samantha also coordinating Gathering on the Main Stage.
Alumni Hannah Bath and Claire Jago appeared as DarkGlass, performing black comedy Yes! I Dig on Sundays! They were also asked to perform on Main Stage during the Gathering, capturing the audience with their 3-minute physical theatre skit Imagine.
Elizabeth Rogers, Production alumnus, was the Stump Arts Coordinator, working tirelessly before and during Black Stump to book and organise artists to appear over the weekend.
Our music students and alumni were also Stump highlights, with bands
Playjerise, Seven Steady, Almost a Trio, LUKAS, Guava, Colleen
O’Connell and Sam’s Permission all drawing crowds. John from Sam’s
Permission said, “We just loved playing for our 2nd year at Stump, and
enjoyed playing Mainstage on the Friday night alongside Planet of the
Stereos to a great lively crowd.”
And finally, Wesley Institute
presented the School of Drama’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students,
performing mini-plays teamed with short sermons under the name Short
Shots. Billed as “A series of short shows and sharp sermons on
spiritual subjects for a savvy society”, the Short Shots team
demonstrated the power of drama teamed with ministry.
Black Stump is a fantastic opportunity for artists to take their skills to the streets. Once again our students and alumni have proved themselves to be motivated, creative and adaptable. Well done everyone!
