On Saturday the 6 April, the hall at MGC was the venue for the 2024 Marlborough SGCNZUOSW Shakespeare Festival.

Over 50 students took part, ranging from Year 2 to Year 12. There were groups from MGC, Queen Charlotte College and Marlborough Children and Youth Theatre. Judges were Hilary Hickling (nee Edmonds) and Monique Webster - both of whom are MGC and SGCNZ alumni.

There were a range of pieces, from plays such as A Midsummer Night's Dream to Romeo and Juliet. There were four competitive entries and eight display entries. It was a lovely evening and enjoyed by all who attended.

RESULTS:

Student Directors: Kayla Giles (MCY Theatre - Romeo and Juliet), Lexie Newman (MGC - Love's Labour's Lost) Jessica Sinclair and Sienna Wheeler (MCY Theatre - The Merchant of Venice)

Best Connection with the Audience: Marlborough Children and Youth Theatre - Love's labour's Lost - Maisie Hammond, Harriet Hickman, Caitlyn Mitchell, Lily Parker, Claudia Richmond

Best Onstage Connection: Queen Charlotte College - A Midsummer Night's Dream - Erin Beattie, Chiara Erickstad-Smart and Hazel Fishburn

Best Concept Award: Marlborough Girls' College - Love's Labour's Lost - Lexie Newman

Judges Award - Ensemble Performance: Marlborough Children and Youth Theatre - Macbeth - Abigail De Jager, Cosette Jeffries, Lucy Taylor, Emma Webster

Judges Award - Solo Performance: StageCoach UK - The Tempest - Scarlett Clemmet-Jones

Most Promising Actor Award: (2 given) Queen Charlotte College - Grace Cooper (Theseus from A Midsummer Night's Dream) and Marlborough Children and Youth Theatre - Lucy MacKenzie (Ophelia's monologue from Hamlet)

The winning 5 minute piece going to the National Shakespeare Festival in June: Marlborough Children and Youth Theatre - The Merchant of Venice student directed and performed by Jessica Sinclair and Sienna Wheeler (both MGC students)

Direct Entry student to NSSP - recipient of the Ray White Award for further participation in The Shakespeare Festival: Loki Le Grice (an MBC student) who played Mercutio in Marlborough Children and Youth Theatre's Romeo and Juliet, student directed by Kayla Giles.

StageCoach UK student - Scarlett Clemmet-Jones (9 years old) has been invited to present her interpretation of Ariel from The Tempest at the National Festival in Wellington. This will take place on the Sunday evening before the award ceremonies.