On Saturday 9 April, the Regional Shakespeare Festival took place with spaces at the National Festival up for grabs.

It was wonderful to be able to enjoy all the hard work the student performers had put into their pieces. The judges were Drama teacher and voice artist Naomi Barton and Sam Lewis, Marlborough Shakespeare Festival alumni and member of the Young Shakespeare Company 2020. 

The Judges were impressed by the variety of scenes and thought that the student directors had put into their extracts. MGC entered one piece and combined with MBC to enter another. There were also three MGC students in the entry from the MCY Youth Theatre.

Two pieces were selected to attend the National Festival in Wellington in June where they will perform their piece on stage at the Michael Fowler Centre, along with winners from the other 23 Regional Festivals. The participants attend workshops and watch professional theatre shows, and have the chance to be selected to attend the National Shakespeare School Production (NSSP). The judges also selected a student who will go straight to NSSP from the Regional Festival. 

Judges Awards

• Sam Lewis - Imogen James: from Taming of the Shrew (MGC) for her characterisation of Katharine.
• First piece going to Nationals - The Taming of the Shrew (MGC) 5 minutes student directed by Abby Sandall. Katharine as Imogen James and Petruchio as Lu van Asch
• Second piece going to Nationals - Macbeth (MCY Theatre) including 3 MGC students - Grace Boyd, Sabrina Rae and Jessie Gatjens.
• Direct entry to NSSP - Leander Mason (MGC) 

Those from MGC recognized for their effort and hard work were:

• Best Connection with the Audience - Imogen James: Katharine from Taming of the Shrew (MGC)
• Best Onstage Connection - Imogen James and Lu van Asch: Katharine and Petruchio from Taming of the Shrew (MGC)
• Best Director - Abigail Sandall for Taming of the Shrew (MGC)
• Most Promising Actor - prize sponsored by Ray White Blenheim - Leander Mason: Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet (MBC/MGC combined)