A group of year 11 and 12 students from Glenunga International High School had the great privilege of attending the 2001 International Schools' Theatre Arts Festival held at Caulfield Grammar School in Melbourne.

We were asked to develop a 20-minute piece based on the Festival's theme 'The Quality of Silence'. Through brainstorming and work shopping we were able to express concisely the various moods and connotations the silence can undertake. However, the real test of our ability would come at the festival, where we would have to meet the expectations of our international audience. In this respect, we succeeded; other schools were impressed by our willingness to explore many aspects of silence and actually offer a proposition as to its nature.

Performances from other schools were generally excellent; giving us an insight into the standard of international theatre. These productions also exposed us to various theatrical styles and conventions, providing a comprehensive view of world theatre.
The festival itself aimed to develop our ensemble skills and broaden our notions of theatre arts. Ensemble work involved group trust, physical and vocal exercises and culminated in a brief 'happening', a spontaneous performance at the end of the festival. Through ensemble sessions we also gained a greater appreciation of sound, silence and their effect in everyday life.

Workshops were held to better acquaint us with the many aspects of international theatre. They furnished us with an understanding how silence can be an effective part of production and performance.

Overall, the festival was an enriching, multicultural and memorable experience for all those who participated.