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Ben, Sophie W, Sophie H and Olivia are well-pleased with their winning scene's success.
 
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Thespians impress at Shakespeare Festival

drama teacher Anton Bentley —

Nayland College drama students came away dripping with accolades after taking part in the University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival’s Nelson/Tasman regional event held at Waimea College on Saturday 6th of April.

Our talented students took out one of the most coveted awards of the day: the Nelson Repertory Award for Best Production – 15 Minute Scene.  This was for their performance of scene 2 from Act III of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.  It was directed by Year 13 student Olivia Williams who also played Hermia, alongside Ben Dodd (Demetrius), Sophie Wallace-Jenner (Helena) and Sophie Hampson (Lysander).

These students will now go on to perform in Wellington at the national festival held over Queen’s Birthday weekend. From nationals, 48 students are chosen for the National School Shakespeare Production. This is where they study with industry professionals for a week. Of these, 24 are then chosen to form the Young Shakespeare Company who will travel to London to study and perform at the Globe Theatre. Nayland alumnus Indigo Levitt attended the Globe in 2018.

There were many other highlights from the day and fantastic performances from the 18 students from Years 9 – 13 who took part in a total of seven student-directed scenes.

Nayland also took home the following:

  • Country Players award for Best Comedy – Ben Dodd (Petruchio) and Eden Lawless (Kate) for the wooing scene from The Taming of the Shrew

  • Will Power Production Award for Best Understanding of the Text – Eden Lawless

  • Sister Leonie Trophy for Sustained Vocal Management – Sophie Wallace-Jenner

  • Rae Herd Award for Best Student Director of 15 Minute Scene – Olivia Williams

Congratulations to all students who took part in a fabulous day.