A NEW SBS drama series, which airs for the first time tonight was filmed largely at Cronulla High School.
The Principal follows the story of Matt Bashir (Alex Dimitriades), the new principal of the fictitious Boxdale Boys High, in Sydney’s south-west, where students of Lebanese, Syrian, Polynesian, African, Asian and Anglo-Saxon backgrounds struggle to get along.
Boxdale has a history of conflict and Mr Bashir wants to turn things around, but that all changes when a student, 17, is found dead in the school grounds.
The story by Essential Media (Rake, Jack Irish) and the writers of East West 101 is the first local drama commissioned by SBS in two years
Award-winning director Kriv Stenders (Red Dog, MIFF 2010) makes his first foray into television storytelling with The Principal.
The character of Matt is a second-generation Lebanese Christian, history teacher and former deputy principal at a highly regarded public girls’ school in Sydney’s north-west.
Likeable but private, he has a passion for history and a strong belief that every child deserves a chance.
He believes in his own ideals and is able to meet teenagers on their own level.
But his personal life is a source of intrigue and frustration for staff, particularly the single females.
Kellie, the police liaison officer at Boxdale Boys High, senses he is hiding something.
The second part of the series airs Thursday night before it continues next Wednesday and Thursday.
It airs on SBS at 8.30pm.
