Jennifer Garcia, Newstead House and Dianne Aylward, Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre. Theatre in Education: The War Years at Newstead presentation at Opening Doors: 2019 Museums & Galleries Queensland Conference.

1. The War Years – Americans at Newstead
Museum and Galleries Conference 2019

2. ABOUT NEWSTEAD
HOUSE

4. A BIT OF BACKGROUND…
• Brisbane’s oldest surviving residence
• Built in 1846 by Scotsmen Patrick Leslie
• Originally a two story Georgian Cottage
• Occupied by some of Queensland’s most
influential colonial figures
• Harris family extended to what you see today
• A history of parties, celebrations, music and
important meetings

5. NEWSTEAD 1853
Watercolor by Lord Henry Scott

8. LOCATED MINUTES FROM THE CBD
STUNNING VIEWS OF THE RIVER
SET IN NEWSTEAD PARK
A CULTURAL HUB
A JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES

14. Visitor experience is:
MORE MEMORABLE
MORE ENGAGING
MORE AUTHENTIC
MORE ALIVE
THEREFORE visitors are
CONNECTED

15. ABOUT
MORETON BAY ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION CENTRE

16. THE WAR YEARS
AMERICANS AT NEWSTEAD HOUSE
A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP

22. The Journey
From a body of research to:
• Form a collaborative partnership – with shared values and beliefs
• Sharing Newstead House and significant Brisbane house in innovative ways
• Engage all parties – educators, drama experts, historians
• Develop a script – authentic, immersive and reflect accuracy of the era
• Align to the Australian Curriculum – critical for schools
• Set the scene – transform Newstead House back to 1942
• Recruit – actors / narrator / schools
• Trial with schools – seek feedback / refine / advertise and communicate

24. Linking to the Australian Curriculum

38. Outcomes
• Trial
• 2016 with 82 students. Outstanding feedback from teachers and students
Since 2017:
• In excess of 1000 students have been immersed in The War Years:
Americans at Newstead House
• Hundreds of the public have been immersed in the Museum Theatre
experience at Newstead House
• Over 120 teachers will be engaged in Professional Development with
The War Years: Americans at Newstead House in October 2019

39. Teacher voice:
Significant learnings for your students from The War Years:
• Students developed a broader understanding and greater appreciation for
the effect of WW2 in Brisbane. Kedron SHS
• I think the most significant part was that it brought history to life for the
students – they could feel how it was like at Newstead House and in
Brisbane in 1942. Kedron SHS
• The impact of the changing relationship between Australia and America on
the everyday lives of Australians was beautifully explored. Kedron SHS
• Students came away feeling like this part of our history was also a part of
their history. They definitely loved the feeling of connectedness. Bray Park
SHS

40. • The engagement with the actors and theatre on this historic site really
allowed the students to feel what is was like for people. Emmaus College
• Interactions with actors when they were out of character and the ability
to ask questions enabled students to form a deeper understanding.
Kedron SHS
• All students were totally immersed in the experience - they were
transported back in time, on the actual site, and this made the
experience extremely memorable. Bray Park SHS
Teachers voice:
Significant learnings for your students from The War Years:

41. Teachers voice:
Strategies the narrator used to enhance student learning and
development from The War Years:
• The variety of ways information was delivered was great for students
to be able to learn and engage with all aspects allowing growth in their
learning. Emmaus College
• The use of actors and performances helped bring to life history for the
students, with the narration reinforcing the reality. Kedron SHS
• Peppering the immersive performances with actual research from the
time fully immersed and engaged all students. Emmaus College

44. Take home
messages

45. Where learning is
fun & young
people discover
the little historian
within…

50. Thank you
Jen Garcia
Communications and Marketing Manager
Newstead House
Dianne Aylward
Principal
Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre