A group of Avonside students, from across all year levels, competed in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare festival at Middleton Grange school on Saturday.

They performed the opening scene from Titus Andronicus which was directed by Ms Dani Coulter. Traditionally a masculine play set in ancient Rome and full of violence and gore, our scene was updated to current times. Taking place in a modern-day high school, we ignored the gender of the original characters and focused on the impact of social media and cancel culture.

The students did an outstanding job of performing difficult dialogue with meaning and brought a lot of energy to the stage. Our scene won the award for boldest concept and Ruby Froggatt won the award for best supporting actress in her role as Lavinia.

With only 5 weeks to practice the 15-minute-long scene and at least one person away isolating each week, the students should be extremely proud of themselves for what they achieved.

The students who performed were Miriama Smith in the titular role of Titus, Zoe Langley as Tamora, Eleisha Friend as Marcus, Jessie Harris as Saturninus, Sarah McCaffery as Bassianus, Ruby Froggatt as Lavinia, Rosie Paul as Lucius, Jennifer Haslett as Chiron, KJ Bramhall as Alarbus, Isabella Harneiss as Quintus and the Captain, Isana Yazdani as Demetrius, Pania Howden as Mutius, Alya Joyce as Martius, and Kayla O’Callaghan, Brooke Sykes and Ruby Low as the Tribunes.