HOLD onto your cowboy hats and holster your revolvers.

Portland Secondary College students are going full Western with their 2024 production The New Sheriff in Town.

A cast of 24 students from Year 7 to 11 will star in the play written by PSC teacher Ashley Elijah.

Year 10 student Matilda Andrews plays lead female character Calamity Kate and said the play has elements of drama and mystery.

“It’s a typical cowboy, cowgirl, scenario,” she said.

“There is a saloon, there is a sheriff, there are deputies, something has gone wrong in the town and there is a new sheriff in town, but no one knows who it is.”

Asked about her character, Matilda said Calamity Kate is a prominent person in the town and full of personality.

“Calamity is the owner of the saloon,” she said.

“She’s very strong minded, she cares for her saloon girls very much, but she gets a bit sensitive at times.”

Matilda said preparing for the play has been a great experience.

“The best part is working with the rest of the cast, all the laughs and learning the dances and the fun scenes,” she said.

Acting as the lead nonetheless has its challenges, and Matilda said the hardest part is learning the lines.

“I read over the script and try to dot point what the different parts that I say are,” she said.

“In one specific scene where I say a lot in one go, I dot point the order and then I go from there and try to remember what I say in that order.”

Asked if she was nervous about performing, Matilda said she was but that was a good thing.

“If you’re not nervous there is no point in doing it,” she said.

As for anyone thinking about attending the play, Matilda said it would be great to watch.

“I reckon it will be pretty good,” she said.

“Everyone should definitely come and have a look on one of the nights.”

Year 11 student Angus Meade plays opposite to Matilda in the leading male role as the Sheriff.

“He’s a mean, controlling man,” he said.

“He’s wanting to take over the saloon.”

Asked if he has enjoyed rehearsing, Angus said he had.

“It’s a lot of fun preparing for it,” he said.

Mr Elijah said writing the play was a challenge.

“I spent the summer holidays trying to come up with some ideas,” he said.

“It was actually harder than I thought coming up with an original plot for a wild west school production, but we got there at the end.”

Mr Elijah said there were benefits to writing an original production as opposed from using a pre-established script.

“The flexibility and being able to remove characters if you want or add some more,” he said.

“If things change along the way you don’t have any script writers who will be upset with the decisions you make.”

The play will be performed at the Portland Art Centre on September 5,6 and 7 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are $10 and can now be purchased at the PSC General Office or at the PAC on production nights.