MAC has won the Showquest Southland/Central Otago regional competition!

Showquest win

Congratulations to MAC’s Showquest performers and crew who were awarded first place in the Southland/Central Otago regional competition at the Civic Theatre in Invercargill on Monday 9 June.

In addition to winning the event, MAC was also awarded the following prizes:

• Excellence in Dance

• Recognition in Music

• Recognition in Art
  

And, congratulations to Mila Culpitt who was named Whetū Rangatahi (Star of the Show).

In what was a stunning performance, our student-led piece ‘Wahine Toa’ was a journey through the history, resilience and leadership of four pioneering women representing the past, present and future of Aotearoa.

Congratulations to the following students for their demonstration of our school value of ihi in the commitment and skill they showed in creating and executing this incredible work:

Izzy Ashford, Elsie Baker, Asha Blake, Casey Brown, Macy Cameron, Alice Chaly, Nakoa Chin-McGrath, Arabella Chittock, Mikayla Clark, Ava Coubray, Gemma Cragg, Charlotte Crosbie, Mila Culpitt, Elsie Dale, Mila Dalton, Mikayla Duncan, Sophie Edgar, Holly Fitzgerald, Hannah Gillespie, Harriet Grant, Mila Guy, Aimee Hamilton, Emma Head, Cienna Hearle, Ruby Keene, Casey Knights Johnston, Blanka Lewis, Esme McArthur, Isla McClean, Indi McFarlane, Sasha Milne, Lilly Morrison, Rose Nunn, Lola O’Regan, Molly Robertson, Penny Rutledge, Oscar Searle (lighting design and execution), Charlotte Sheppard, Olive Sinclair, Ella Smalley, Brynn Smith, Daisy Speak, Jesse Steel, Ryan Stembridge (video wall creator), Jaime Taylor, Livia Taylor, Lily Tessier, Amy Thomas, Grace Thomas, Hannah Thomas, Izzie Timpany, Saoirse Tomes, Mia Waite, Sam Watkins, Anika West, Zuzia Wick, Kate Wilkes, Ella Willmott, Charlise Wyatt.

Team captains for the production were Grace Thomas and Mia Waite, the pioneering women were performed by Ruby Keene (Kate Edgar), Olive Sinclair (Dame Whina Cooper), Hannah Gillespie (Dame Jacinda Ardern), and Mila Culpitt (Kate Sheppard),  the choreographers were Olive Sinclair, Mila Culpitt, Hannah Gillespie, Mikayla Duncan, and Holly Fitzgerald, and the stage manager was Kate Wilkes.

"Being one of the MAC Showquest student leaders this year was an amazing experience, and I felt so lucky to be a part of such a great team of motivated dancers. The part I enjoyed most was seeing the group come together over the course of rehearsals — we really became such a family by the time we got to the regional final." Mia Waite (Team Captain)

"When MAC was announced as the winner, it honestly didn’t feel real at first. I was in shock if you couldn't tell by my reaction! It was all worth it! Then I just felt this huge wave of pride and happiness for our whole team. All the hard work, and challenges were totally worth it. I felt so grateful to be part of such an amazing group and to have had the chance to share a story that means so much to us. It’s a moment I’ll never forget." Grace Thomas (Team Captain)

Thank you to teachers Lisa Clough and Jo Hewson-Williams for their support of the students and for accompanying them to Invercargill, and to local dance schools Dance Wānaka and Centralpoint Dance Studios for their generous loan of costumes for the performance.

Showquest is a nationwide performing arts competition in which students present original stage performances combining art, music, dance, drama, culture and technology. A video of MAC’s performance will be submitted for judging in the national final.

Watch the video

You can watch a video of our students' stunning performance here.

A truth too loud to ignore

Year 13 Drama proudly presents 'Antigone', adapted by Don Taylor.  The group is taking a modern lens to Sophocles’ timeless tragedy. 

When leaders stop listening and pride outweighs truth, disaster isn’t far behind. In this powerful adaptation of 'Antigone', we step into a world that looks eerily like our own—a place clouded by misinformation, social media outrage, and the dangerous belief that rule is greater than compassion.

Creon is a king blinded by ego. Antigone is a girl with everything to lose—and the courage to stand alone. Set in a symbolically post-millennial world, this production fuses ancient text with bold costume, stylised makeup, and a chorus that echoes the noise of the digital age.

At its heart, this is a story about who we listen to, what we stand for, and why love for humanity still matters most.

Performances: Wednesday 25 June and Thursday 26 June at 7pm in the MAC theatre. Doors open at 6.30pm and tickets are on the door.

Please note: This play has mature themes, and some content may be emotionally challenging. Viewer discretion is advised. Best for 15 plus.