Shakespeare given youthful twist
Stage festival gives students the chance to tread the boards
The Ka¯piti SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival was held earlier this month at Te Raukura ki Ka¯piti with Ka¯piti College, Paraparaumu College and Mana College competing.
With many festivals across the country having to move online, regional co-ordinator Chrissy Perry said they were privileged to be able to hold the event with a live audience.
“We were very fortunate to be able to give the performers the gift of a live audience as many regions around the country were only able to run a 100 per cent digital mode festival due to Covid-19 interruptions.
“The performers and directors from our colleges were incredibly resilient through the rehearsal process to bring their pieces to a live performance status.”
With seven schools originally signing up for the 31st rendition of the festival, only three were able to make it, with Mana College submitting a digital piece that was shown during the event to the live audience.
The 12 entries were assessed by Tracy Wills-Wright and Teresa Sullivan, who said they were at an extremely high standard.
Highlights of the festival included Ka¯piti College’s 15-minute piece of Romeo and Juliet and Paraparaumu College’s five-minute piece of Merry Wives of Windsor making it through to the SGCNZ UOSWSF National Festival to be held in Wellington at the Michael Fowler Centre over Queen’s Birthday weekend.
Paraparaumu College’s Eva Weld was also awarded direct entry into the National Shakespeare Schools Production, a week-long event to be held in Dunedin in October.
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Results
-One 15-minute scene to participate in the National Festival at Queen’s Birthday weekend, will also receive the Sheilah Winn Cup. Ka¯piti College: Romeo and Juliet
-One five-minute scene to participate in the National Festival, will also receive the Sheilah Win Festival Cup.
Paraparaumu College: Merry Wives of Windsor
-One individual direct entry student to National Shakespeare Schools Production, who is not in a group chosen to attend the National Festival, will also receive the mayor’s cup. Paraparaumu College: Eva Weld
-The Tim Watson Cup for outstanding individual performance. Paraparaumu
College: Sonny Edwards
-Moby Dickens Bookshop Award for the best delivery of the text.
Paraparaumu College: Eva Weld
-Pak’nSave Ka¯piti Cup for outstanding performance in a supporting
role. Paraparaumu College: Ciara Devlin
-Coastlands Cup for outstanding elements of performance. Ka¯piti College: Taming of the Shrew
-The Ka¯piti Observer Cup for the most innovative and creative performance. Ka¯piti College: Titus Andronicus
-The Adjudicator’s Cup for the best connection between two actors. Ka¯ piti College: Tama Porter and Molly Gallagher, Romeo and Juliet
-Horowhenua District Council Cup for outstanding young performer years 9-11. Mana College: Georgia Ellis
-The Taz and Dyson Assessors’ Award given to a performer or group the assessors wish to acknowledge for something that isn’t covered by the other awards. Paraparaumu College: Twelfth Night, for overall excellence.