Video transcript
Schools Spectacular 2022 - Creating the Magic - behind the scenes - 02. Heroes

RACHEL WILSON: Brooke and I have put together an item that explores and celebrates everyone and everything that is a hero. We've got lots and lots of primary students being the hero and saving the day with Hercules, our giant puppet.

[music sting]

BROOKE LANE: To choreograph for that amount of students, there's been a lot of planning that has gone ahead, lots of Zoom sessions, with the help of Rachel and the rest of the Spec teams. They have helped me through my first year of being a choreographer. So, it's been such an amazing experience.

RACHEL WILSON: The story that we hope people take away is that everyone can be a hero, everyone can save the day and everyone can just bring the joy to this segment.

SEBASTIAN STEFANOVSKI: A lot of them are about how you could be a hero, and there's heroes in every day.

KEELA: A superhero to me is someone who's kind and makes you feel happy and healthy.

ELOISE: Brooke and Rachel are heroes to me because they made this awesome dance.

SARAH GELTCH: Some superheroes, to us, are our parents, our teachers and people that we're able to look up to.

AUDRINA: My superhero to me as my mum and my dad, and my brother and sister, 'cause they are so fun and lovable, and I love them.

[music playing]

CASEY ALEXANDER: My name's Casey Alexander and in segment 9 I will be the big Hercules puppet that comes through in the first and third song.

[music playing]

JOHN DEACON: Hi, guys. My name is John Deacon. I've been involved with the Spectacular for 31 years. I got into the Spectacular because I make puppets, and it's just a joy to come to, every time you come here, because there's a spot in the show when the puppets come out, and it sends the place into a bit of an uproar.

SEBASTIAN STEFANOVSKI: I think they're very entertaining, they bring a lot of light to the piece, and it also captivates the hearts of a lot of kids.

JOHN DEACON: Well, I think it's the little child in us all. You know, we just love something that's a bit colourful and a bit of fun. Well, I use foam and whatever else is around the place on the floor, sometimes, and people could throw it out, and I said, 'Don't throw that out, I could use that.'

CASEY ALEXANDER: It's not too heavy, the suit, it's not too heavy. It's quite breathable 'cause it's foam. It's quite good, I'm harnessed in. So, I'm in control of the legs, the legs would be strapped to my legs, so, when I walk, it will walk. But I've got 2 other puppets who will be controlling my arms, and so they'll be waving around with sticks.

SARAH GELTCH: We're all being puppets and puppeteers, and there's going to be 8 people that are individual puppets, and then there's going to be 4 of them that are in the big Hercules puppet.

KEELA: The puppets, they're really funny and they're really fast, some of them.

SARAH GELTCH: Because we're all dancers, we are able to pick up choreography quite quickly. So, putting us into the puppeteers, they will be able to pick up everything they want us to do quickly, and we'll be playing a character. So, not only will we be dancing, we'll be also having to put on a bit of acting skills with it, too.

AUDRINA: My favourite part of the whole thing is probably my costumes and everybody else's because they're all colourful, and they just stand out in front of the audience.

SUE DAWSON: The costumes are really exciting. They're all based around heroes and superheroes and lots of sparkle.

JOSIE CAPEL: We have really exciting costumes. They are vibrant colours, we've got capes, and we've got masks as well. The most fun aspect of this is it's actually our first time performing at Schools Spectacular for our school. So, it's all new, all exciting.

ELOISE: Being in Schools Spectacular is so fun, just to be able to come and dance all day.

PERFORMERS: We're all here at Schools Spectacular, and we're having so much fun, and we're superheroes!

[cheering]

[music playing]