Performing Arts/Cultural

Drama, music, dance, debating, visual arts, Polyfest, Kapa Haka… whatever the area of their ability, all students at St Bede’s College are expected to develop and use their God-given talents for the good of others.

We offer a full programme of itinerant music lessons in orchestral instruments, contemporary instruments and voice. Students have the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of extra-curricular activities including; Jazz Band, Senior Choir, Junior Choir, Barbershop Quartet, Chamber Orchestra, Woodwind ensemble, Liturgy Music ensemble, Rockquest, College Musicals, Showquest, Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Competition, Theatresports, Debating Teams, Polyfest and Kapa Haka. Regular Art exhibitions and Variety Concerts showcase emerging talent and provide opportunities for students to share their talents with the community.

Drama

Visual Arts

Kapa Haka

Polyfest

Debating

Music

Drama

As well as producing many NCEA Drama Productions there are numerous events that all Bedeans can participate in, including a bi-ennial Major Production and Stage Challenge. Variety Shows held each term give both Drama and Music Students an opportunity to perform in the school auditorium to an enthusiastic audience of parents and friends.

Shakespeare is a part of the Senior Drama curriculum and there is also the opportunity for students to compete outside class in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival, with a 15 minute student or teacher-directed piece or 5 minute student-only directed scene from any one of Shakespeare’s plays. The focus is on interaction with the actors and audience with minimal set.  Open to all students, this competition has been fiercely contested at St Bede’s and students have regularly achieved a high standard at the regional and national festivals.

Within the Junior Drama Curriculum students participate in Theatre Sports to help explore acting techniques, boost self-confidence, unleash creativity and have a lot of fun. They then are able to carry on developing these skills and participate in the Junior and Senior Theatre Sports Competition.
Theatre Sports in Schools is a long-established cultural competition enjoying almost two decades in Christchurch since 1989. Teams of four players create original scenes, songs and stories based on audience suggestions.

Show Quest is a national student-driven competition consisting of dance, drama and music for secondary students of all ages.

Visual Arts

‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.’ (Pablo Picasso).

Our talented and enthusiastic Visual Arts teachers at St Bede’s College make it possible for our students to achieve their individual creative goals.  We offer courses in Art, Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture.

With a brand new purpose-built building, students enjoy a fantastic learning environment in which to create. Regular exhibitions of student work in both the junior and senior school gives students the opportunity to replicate the process that artists follow in the industry from concept design through to exhibition and marketing.

 

Kapa Haka

The St Bede’s College Kapa Haka group rehearses weekly and leads the college in important events on the school calendar. They perform at College Variety Concerts and Prizegivings and compete in the Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Competition. They have recently been working in collaboration with Marian College in a combined group. Boys from all year levels and cultural backgrounds are encouraged to join this group.

 

Polyfest

St Bede’s College has a proud tradition of participating in the annual Polyfest competition. The Polyfest group consists of students from all year levels and from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. The students also perform in college Variety Concerts and assemblies. They are often led by senior students and old boys of the college.

Debating

St Bede’s College has a proud tradition of public speaking and debating and has a continuous record of competing in the Canterbury Regional Schools Debating Champs for The Press Cup since this competition began in 1988.

Canterbury representatives are announced at this tournament and Bedeans have regularly been chosen to represent Canterbury at the national schools competition. Several students have also been selected for the New Zealand Secondary School’s Debating Team.

At the beginning of the year students are invited to sign up for debating. Teams are then entered in the inter school competition run by the Canterbury Schools Debating Council and coaches allocated. We currently have teams entered in both divisions:- Junior and Senior.

Competitions entered include the Canterbury Schools Regional Debating Tournament, the Bishop Lyons Shield (Senior Team), Senior Impromptu competition and Junior Press (early September) for Yr 10 & 11.

Students are charged a small subscription of $30.

The Hogan Cup
A public speaking competition established in 1991 to provide Junior Bedeans with an opportunity to learn the skills of debating and public speaking. This competition now also includes haka, poetry reading and drama. The Hogan Cup originated as a Junior inter-class competition but in 2000 it changed and has now become an integral part of the inter-house competition.  Father Jack Hogan, after whom the competition is named, was a highly revered academic and intellectual Marist priest on the staff. It was considered a fitting manner in which to honour him.

Bishop Lyons Shield
Every year students at Catholic secondary schools in Canterbury compete in public speaking for the Bishop Lyons Shield.  It was established by Bishop Lyons in 1947, who was the Bishop of Christchurch at that time. The competition is between the seven Catholic secondary colleges in the Christchurch diocese and victory is highly coveted. The event involves Debating, Prepared Speech, Impromptu Speech, Scripture Reading and Religious Questions. Not only is the competition intense and the standard superb, it is also a wonderful opportunity for the young Catholic men and women, and also staff, from the competing colleges to socialise.  St Bede’s College has had a fine tradition of success in this competition, being the overall winners of the shield 24 times and most recently in 2010 and 2013 and 2014.