We won! Dedication, creativity, and hard work saw our students rise to the challenge of interpreting Shakespeare for a modern audience. 

The SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival is an annual event celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2016. There are 23 regional festivals with the winners heading to Wellington for the National competitions Queen’s Birthday weekend.

Ethan Morse, Tyler Clarke, Micaela Fleming, and Georgia McLean performed a 15 minute piece from Act 1 Scene 2 of The Tempest in which Prospero and Ariel discuss the storm they created which caused the shipwreck on their island. Prospero is pleased until Ariel asks for release from servitude.

These students directed their own work, which was innovative and interpreted in such a way the judge said she had never seen anything like it. For example there were three Ariels who moved like a Greek Chorus as they acted out the tempest using paper boats set against a sinister music track.

Not only did we win (we have the cup to prove it) but also we are now off to Wellington in June to compete in the National Festival.

Congratulations to our 2016 Shakespeare Team.