Ten of our students competed in the SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival Nationals at the Michael Fowler Centre over Queens Birthday weekend.

A big weekend in Wellington over Queen’s birthday was a huge success for our senior Drama students. A group of 10 students and their teacher, Verity Davidson, travelled to Wellington to take part in the SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival Nationals at the Michael Fowler Centre.

Two scenes from each region are chosen to go to the nationals over Queen’s Birthday weekend. This year, the Nayland College Drama Company presentation of a scene from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ was one of the scenes chosen.

The weekend was full to bursting with drama workshops, performances from schools all over the country, a theatre show at Bats Theatre and Ten Pin bowling! Our performance was very well received with the audiences really enjoying the comedy – we got so many laughs!

At the Awards Ceremony on Sunday evening, presented by MP and Deputy Prime Minister, Grant Robertson, Anushka Castaing was awarded a prestigious Assessor’s Award for her work as a student director and Molly Clarke, Anushka Castaing and Taiki Sharp all gained direct entry to the Secondary Schools Shakespeare Production in Dunedin in October. From there, 20 students will be chosen to go to London. Well done to the whole cast!

Thank you to all those who supported us and made it possible for us to travel to Wellington, and to all the wonderful parents of our students!