Director of Culture | Mr Matt Cocking

We Will Rock You 

On the couch with Galileo - Liam Keates-Riley as Galileo

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I am currently in Year 10 at Gregory Terrace and I have absolutely loved the Terrace Music and Culture program since day one. I started singing when I was around six years old and that’s when I joined my first school choir at Windsor State School. I have been lucky enough to be a part of many different school and professional musical productions such as Aladdin, Hairspray the Arena Spectacular, Seussical Jr ™, Pippin and currently We Will Rock You. It has been a privilege to be in these productions as I was lucky enough to be the main lead in Aladdin, Seussical Jr ™ and our school’s current musical. I’m a part of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music State Honours Ensemble Program and was a member of Fame Theatre Company for three years.  I have also performed with the Queensland Theatre Company. At school, I am a member of the Terrace Choir, Terrace Rock Band and the Terrace Vocal Ensemble. In 2017 I was the Year 9 Dux of Drama. In 2016 I was a member of the Gallipoli Symphony who performed at QPAC with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and in 2015 I won the Southbank busking competition. I attend private singing and piano lessons at school, which have really helped me advance and develop my skills as a performer. 

What do you want us to know about your character?

In this production I play Galileo Figaro. He has a very self-confident, slightly arrogant persona. In a way Galileo and Scaramouche’s relationship is like the cartoon Tom and Jerry. Galileo is like Tom the cat, constantly following Scaramouche (Jerry the mouse) who always has a trick up her sleeve. 

What has been the biggest challenge for you?

The biggest challenge for me personally within the production is probably learning the script. The script is around 85 pages long but I find it really gripping and witty. It’s definitely been one of the best scripts I have performed so far.

What is the thing you are most excited about as we get close to Opening Night?

I am really looking forward to running the show at the performance venue as the whole set will be complete, we will have access to the final lighting and I think it will really boost the energy for me and the rest of the cast.

What’s next for you?

Since I am in Year 10, I still have one more Terrace production left in 2020 so I would be very keen to participate in that. When I leave school my musical related career dreams would include me attending the Queensland Conservatorium of Music for either Contemporary Voice or Musical Theatre.

Tickets go on sale for We Will Rock You on Thursday 26 April at 10am.

Motivational Speaker Tuesday 24 April

Next Tuesday 24 April the Cultural Department will hold a session for the elite teams of our program facilitated by motivational speaker Mr Justin Nickerson. Justin is formally recognised as the leading auctioneer across Australasia and is the only Australian to win the Australasian Auctioneer of the Year twice in the history of the award. He is also a four time winner of the REIQ Auctioneer of Year award, again being the only auctioneer in the state to achieve this distinction. With a distinctive ability to quickly connect with people, combined with a clear and uncomplicated communication style, Justin’s expertise in motivational management regularly achieves results above expectations. The theme of this motivational session will be those ‘Those who chase excellence will achieve”. Select students have been invited to this session and we ask that you accept this via Parent Lounge ASAP.

Support Group Meetings  

Part of the success of our Cultural activities can be traced to our Support Groups.  If you would like to be involved, meetings are outlined in the College calendar and on the App.  

Debating Support Group – Tuesday 17 July, 5.30pm in the Founders’ Room  DSGPresident@terrace.qld.edu.au

Terrace Performing Arts – Tuesday 17 July, 5.30pm in the Callan Centre  TPAPresident@terrace.qld.edu.au
  

Staying in touch  

To keep in touch with all things Cultural, we would suggest you download the Terrace App and follow us on Twitter (@GTCulture) to ensure you don’t miss anything.