The Year 7 students performed a dramatic excerpt from a literary work by the renowned children’s author Duško Radović together with their teacher Milica. Here’s what Ms. Milica had to say about the performance:
Where did the idea for dramatizing and performing the text come from?
– The idea to perform the text Captain John Peoplefox came to me while selecting texts for another topic. I’m always looking for ways to help students of various ages connect with literature—in this case, drama, which was something new for us in Year 7. I adore Duško Radović and was excited to introduce my students to his endlessly warm and witty dialogues.
What challenges did you face, and what went smoothly during the preparation for the performance?
– Knowing that my Year 7 students are active, dynamic, and always ready for action, I expected them to embrace this task with enthusiasm. We truly enjoyed the process. Rehearsals were filled with lots of laughter and music from the famous movie Pirates of the Caribbean. The students made an effort to learn their lines right away. We rehearsed a total of four lessons, and the only challenge was occasional absences, which meant we had to improvise when not everyone was present.
How was the collaboration with the students?
– They were fantastic! They showed initiative, independence, and creativity—I was thrilled. They chose their roles themselves and even came up with the stage design. I helped minimally with props. They also worked hard on their diction, which is a significant challenge at their age.
Tell me briefly about the performance itself, the audience, and the impressions from the show.
– The performance itself was better than any rehearsal—there were no signs of stage fright in front of the audience! Given the limited space in the Library where we performed, our audience included Year 4 students studying Montenegrin A, as well as all Year 6 students with their teacher, Mr. Ryan, and the PYP coordinator, Ms. Marija. The audience inspired us to give our best, and in the end, they rewarded us with thunderous applause. We also received praise that motivates us for future projects.