EARTHY tones from a drum kit made completely of beach debris and recycled materials will echo through the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre next month as part of the student-produced musical Shifting Sands.
Grant High School Year 12 student Sophie Haberfield hand-crafted the one-of-a-kind musical instrument as part of her personal endeavour school task exploring percussion.
Ms Haberfield said she initially found the unique creation quite difficult to play but has since mastered the skill.
“The idea behind the drum kit was to create something which could make a sound relating to the theme of the musical,” she said.
“As the musical has a strong environmental awareness theme and is based in a coastal town, music teacher Scott Maxwell suggested to make something out of ocean debris.
“The first bi-annual musical Future Punk band featured scrap metal junk percussion so we thought it would be cool to do something similar.”
Ms Haberfield said the design and style of the drum kit hit the nail on the head, crafted from an old bar table, bamboo, driftwood and other ocean debris as decoration.
“We wanted it to look like this crazy, washed up thing and it does,” she said.
“I am close with the ocean myself and grew up around the beach and coastline, so the topic does sit close to my heart.
“I thought it was a great idea to take something considered useless to then form something useful and unique.”
Ms Haberfield said drumming had been her personal stress-release for over five years.
“For me, drumming is something where I can sit and not think about anything else,” she said.
With a prominent role to play in the musical, Ms Haberfield said she was proud of the Elite Performing Arts team for how far it had come.
“It has been a fulfilling experience, especially now as we are nearing the end of production and are able to look over the things we have achieved,” she said.
“We also have the opportunity to showcase it to many people.
“The whole cast has become a big family now and I am excited to see how the performances will go.”
Although incorporated into all songs, Ms Haberfield said the drum kit would feature in its own act titled Ocean.
School music teacher Mike Bakker said Ms Haberfield’s creation allowed the musical to expand on what percussion can be brought to the performance.
“It has been a new learning experience for everyone involved, especially Sophie,” Mr Bakker said.
“The kit can effectively make beachy and earthy clicks and ticks which we would not be able to achieve with anything else.
“I am proud of this production as a whole and am impressed with what the students have achieved.”
Shifting Sands will be held at Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre on September 26 and 27, with two matinee performances and two evening performances.
