Globe sojourn ‘mind-blowing’
Performing at the Globe Theatre in London is a rare opportunity for any aspiring young actor – especially one who lives on the other side of the world.
But that is exactly what Matamata College student Grace Drysdale-Dunn will be doing in nine months time.
The 16-year-old has been selected for the prestigious Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand Young Shakespeare Company.
She was one of 24 students chosen from an original 5500 candidates from across New Zealand.
‘‘When they called me I was kind of in shock – very, very happy,’’ she said.
‘‘It would be amazing just to go [to the Globe Theatre], but to actually perform there is kind of mind-blowing.’’
Grace was part of a Matamata College cast that won the Most Imaginative and Innovative Production Award at the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival in Wellington in June.
From there, she was selected for the National Shakespeare School Production and spent a week at Scots College in Wellington.
The 46 students at the camp were split into three groups and spent the week in intensive workshops and rehearsals, before performing at the college and the Legislative Chamber at Parliament.
‘‘It was a really good experience, one of the best weeks of my life,’’ Grace said.
‘‘I met so many cool people. We became really good friends.’’
Her group was directed by well-known New Zealand actor and theatre director Stuart Devenie.
‘‘He was just fantastic, and I learned so much from him in terms of acting and Shakespeare.
‘‘I have so much more appreciation for Shakespeare and the depth of it now.’’
Grace plans on pursuing acting as a career and hopes to be accepted into a drama school overseas when she finishes school. ‘‘I just love acting,’’ she said. ‘‘ When I told my friends we were rehearsing five hours a day in Wellington they were like, ‘ how can you handle that?’ But I loved it.’’
The Young Shakespeare Company will spend two weeks in London, rehearsing and then performing at the Globe Theatre.
They will also visit Stratford- uponAvon, the hometown of Shakespeare.
‘‘I have no idea how I’m going to wait until next year,’’ Grace said. ‘‘I am so excited.’’ She needs to raise $8500 for the trip and plans to spend the summer fundraising and babysitting.