Saying Yes And… to Creativity and Confidence
On Saturday night, a very special kind of magic unfolded at the Tivoli Club of WA. There were no scripts. No cues. No second takes. Just pure, unfiltered fun. Santa Maria College’s newest co-curricular group, Santa’s Next Act, delivered their debut Improvisation Night, and what a night it was.
This wasn’t your average school performance. There were no lines to learn or blocking to memorise. Instead, our Years 7 to 9 students stepped boldly into the unknown, creating characters, stories and hilarious moments live on stage – all from audience suggestions.
Building More Than Just Scenes
“Santa’s Next Act was designed to stretch and empower students in fresh, unexpected ways. We wanted to do something different this year. Improv builds resilience, creativity and critical thinking. It teaches students to say ‘yes, and…’ to new challenges,” explains Kathryn Capozzi, Drama teacher and Santa’s Next Act Coordinator.
Over Terms 3 and 4, students built their skills through laughter-filled games, guided by Kathryn and guest artist Libby Klysz from The Big Hoo-Haa! During each workshop, students played a range of improvisation games that developed students’ skill set so that they felt comfortable to take chances and learn that there is no wrong answer!
Performance with Purpose
On the night, groups were called on stage to draw an improvisation game from a hat, supported by Libby, they then performed spontaneous scenes based on audience suggestions. No one knew what was coming next. And that was exactly the point.
Each team was cheered on by a warm, welcoming audience and judged by a panel of enthusiastic staff adjudicators: Amanda Huxtable, Claire Newton, and Jennifer Oaten. Points were awarded for improvisation, storytelling, and stage presence. After an evening of belly laughs and clever comebacks, the Sparkle Sisters were crowned Santa Maria’s 2025 Improvisation Champions.
More Than a Show
For the students, this experience was genuinely impactful. They built confidence by taking creative risks, developed their collaboration, problem-solving and emotional intelligence, and learnt that “failing happily” is not only okay, but also an essential part of growth.
“It’s been incredible to see students who began the program a little unsure about the unpredictability of improvisation grow to embrace the unknown and truly shine on stage.” said Kathryn. “One of my favourite things since forming the mixed year level groups has been walking through the school and seeing those groups coming together at recess and lunch. It is a testament of the connections this program has built.”
Year levels blended into dynamic teams, and leadership naturally emerged. Older students guided younger ones, and new friendships blossomed beyond the classroom.
Learning That Lasts
At its heart, Santa’s Next Act is about much more than theatre. It is about preparing young women for life. The ability to listen deeply, adapt quickly and support one another is just as powerful in the classroom, workplace, or a tough conversation with a friend.
These are the kinds of skills that will stay with our girls long after the applause fades.
As Kathryn so beautifully puts it, “Improv teaches openness – to ideas, to people and to possibility. That mindset changes not only how students perform on stage, but how they show up in life.”
- CocurricularActivity, Confidence, CriticalThinkingSkills, EmpoweringYoungWomen, Featured, HolisticLearning, ImprovinEducation, SantasNextAct, StudentPerformance, Years7-9Students
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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