Mahone Bay Old School_A Life and Times_Bob Sayer

Johanna Hancock Brings Back First Class Drama and Introduces “Wordcards”
Since the departure of Mr. Dupperon, there had been little or no real theatre at school. In
fact, there was a danger, with all the sports, of Mahone Bay becoming ‘A Jock School’.
Ms. Hancock changed all that, and, with appearances and praise at The Nova Scotia High
School Drama Festivals [hosted by Dalhousie University], the school earned a provincial
reputation for its drama.
She built up a large drama club, not only of actors, but stage crew and set design,
make up and wardrobe departments. She was a professional with theatre education,
acting with Mermaid and Neptune, and prop management experience at Neptune
Theatre.
Her work not only attracted the drama types, many of whom were not particularly
athletic, but also boys and girls who found a role in support crew. She was as Joann
Ramsey described, “A breath of fresh air.” In class too, she became infamous
for her word cards, where students had to build up and learn and use more difficult
vocabulary. She was a “one off ”: artsy, academic and charismatic. Even ‘the
generals’ took to her. She was passionate about English and drama and passion is
infectious with students.
Noel Dexter found her late in the year, in August 1977. He phoned an Acadia prof. he
knew, asking for leads. She had graduated from Acadia and had decided to travel for
a while, rather than teach immediately. As usual, Mr. Dexter was very persuasive. She
travelled later, after retirement, as a volunteer sailor on the Picton Castle, threatening
to beat up any young crew member who called her “mom.”
Drama Club, 1977
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