When we think of school drama, we often picture the production itself – the lights, the costumes, the applause. The real learning, however, happens well before opening night, in classrooms and rehearsal rooms where students learn to think, collaborate and express themselves with growing confidence.
At Inaburra, the Creative and Performing Arts have long been central. Music, Visual Arts, Dance and Drama are prominent pillars of the school, and we are known for the quality of our musicals and performances. But our commitment to drama has never been only about what happens on stage. It’s about what drama builds in our students.
Drama and Learning Character
Inaburra’s Learning Framework centres on developing learning character: the dispositions that help students grow not only in knowledge, but as lifelong learners. These are expressed in six attributes (THINK, QUESTION, COMMUNICATE, COLLABORATE, STRIVE and SERVE), and drama gives each of them a practical home.
When students devise a scene, they wrestle with uncertainty and test ideas. When they rehearse, they give and receive feedback, refine their work and persevere through setbacks. When they perform, they take a risk in front of others and discover that growth often sits just beyond their comfort zone. This is especially true in the HSC, where Drama is one of the few courses where students must devise a group performance – learning to yield to others’ ideas, navigate the creative process and honour their peers along the way.
These habits, cultivated in the Drama room, carry into other learning environments, appearing when a student presents a project, works through a disagreement in a group task or speaks up in class for the first time.
A Record Year
In 2026, Inaburra received a record 29 nominations for OnSTAGE, which showcases outstanding HSC Drama works from across NSW. This recognition reflects a program where students are encouraged to take creative risks and strive for excellence in their work.
“Drama asks students to be brave – to share an idea before it’s finished, to trust the people around them and to keep going when something isn’t working yet,” says Mrs Gemma Young, Inaburra Drama Teacher. “The results are wonderful, but what I’m most proud of is watching students discover what they’re capable of and seeing that confidence carry into every other part of their learning.”
Why It Matters Now
Drama is one of humanity’s oldest forms of storytelling, and it remains one of the most powerful ways for young people to make sense of themselves, each other and the world. At a time when many students face anxiety, disconnection and a constant stream of competing voices, drama invites them to slow down and engage – to listen closely, imagine, create and connect. In this way, drama brings Inaburra’s Learning Framework to life, giving students a space where thinking, questioning, communicating, collaborating, striving and serving are not taught in isolation, but practised together. It is learning character in action: students growing as learners and as people, side by side.
Founded in 1982, Inaburra School is a leading Independent Christian school based in the southern suburbs of Sydney. Inaburra’s mission […]