On a chilly Thursday the 7th of April, twelve Logan Park students dressed as witches, a rotten king, a couple of knights and various other Elizabethan types, could be seen in the car park helping Mr Hills to load awkward set pieces into the school van.

They were on their way to the Otago Regional division of the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand, University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival at Kings and Queens Performing Arts Centre, a prestigious Shakespeare festival and possible record holder for the festival with the longest name.

This year’s festival was adjusted for covid traffic light levels, meaning it was closed to the public and family and friends, but we were very grateful for the tremendous efforts by the organisers to allow our students the opportunity to perform live with other school groups and the competition judges.

This was a valuable experience for our students who performed three captivating scenes. The Macbeth scene was awarded Best use of Choreography and Movement, the A Midsummer Night’s Dream piece won Best Realisation of Text and Sophie Chettleburgh was awarded direct entry to the National Schools Shakespeare Production for her wonderful performance as Hermia.

SGCNZ's National Shakespeare Schools Production is an intensive, week-long, residential programme, where students from around New Zealand come together to study Shakespeare with the country’s top tutors and professional directors.

Sophie will be asking for advice and tips from Laura Cowles who also won direct entry to the National Shakespeare Schools Production last year and who has now been offered a place with the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand Young Shakespeare Company 2022 and will be off to Shakespeare’s Globe in London later this year.