Shakespeare Performances Delight

On Thursday 3 April, the annual Otago Regional Shakespeare Festival took place at the King’s and Queen’s Performing Arts Centre. This was a full day event with 13 schools from the region presenting 27 scenes from a variety of Shakespeare’s plays.  

Schools can enter either 5-minute scenes or 15-minute scenes, and Trinity prepared four student-directed 5-minute scenes:

Macbeth - Sophie Jonathan, Evie Dummer, Made Newson, Hermione Sparks, Theodora Clarke-Wallace, Holly Cairns, Mina Suwanarusk, Laura Tagg, Tara Cruickshank, Ella Carruthers, Hollie Moloney, Eden Webb

Much Ado About Nothing - Riley Culling, Mitchell Atkinson, Jake Harris, Heath Kettish, Harry Rich, Luke Wild, Noah Kettish 

Henry VI Part 1 - Nuala Kelly, Henry Lapham, Ariel Holloway, Grzegorz Twardowski, Matilda Andersen, Anamika Jones, Esther Koudayah, Ella Carruthers, Meadow Stewart, Mata Taua, Yana Akut, Lola van de Klundert, Evie de Graaf, Chelsea Cross, Camila Barns, Laura McCartney

Love’s Labour’s Lost - Joseph Kelly, Riley Culling, Matthew Lemon, Lucas MacLeod, Meadow Stewart, Matilda Andersen, Anamika Jones, Esther Koudayah

The students had been working on their scenes since the beginning of the term, spending their morning tea times and lunch times rehearsing, and it was exciting for them to finally get to the Festival and present their pieces to an enthusiastic and supportive audience. Throughout the day we enjoyed a huge range of interpretations of the Bard’s plays, from quite traditional to those that took a very contemporary approach.

One of our groups was selected to present their scene at the evening showcase and Trinity came away from the Festival with a number of awards:

• Best 5-Minute Scene: Love’s Labour’s Lost

• Best Student Director: Ariel Holloway for Macbeth

• Denise Walsh Best Ensemble Award: Macbeth 

• Terry McTavish Trophy for Outstanding Stage Presence: Riley Culling for Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing

As a result of winning the 5-minute scene category, the Trinity students in Love’s Labour’s Lost will now represent the region at the National Shakespeare Competition in Wellington during King’s Birthday weekend.

Congratulations to all the students who took part - Trinity is very proud of you, your performances, and your achievements.