SGCNZ National UOSWSF 2017
Written by
In forty-seven 5 and 15 minute bites of Shakespeare, see how innovative young secondary students, selected from all over the country, serve up Titus Andronicus, witches with cultural twists, Rude Mechanicals, jealous sisters, ghosts, lovers, conspirators and some royals at SGCNZ's National University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival.
On Friday 2 June, from 10.00am-5.30pm, and Saturday 3 June, from 9.30am-5.30pm at the MFC, the students will perform for the public, their peers and three Assessors, who will decide on the recipients of the 40 awards recognising excellence, outstanding concepts and fresh deliveries of scenes from these still so pertinent 400+ year old plays.
In response to many years of requests, Year 7s and 8s are being allowed to perform with groups, with a limit of 20% in each one. However, as the Assessors in one region were completely "blown away" by the performance from Richard III by Northcross Intermediate School, involving 40 students, and there was a space in the schedule, this group has been invited to perform as an Emerging Showcase first up on the second morning.
Sunday 4 June will begin at Wellington East Girls' College with twenty Workshops being presented twice from which the students can choose to do two each. An exciting range of local and internationally renowned Tutors in genre including various acting skills, voice, stage combat, puppeteering, mime by Sir Jon Trimmer, and more by other leading arts exponents and Alumni. Maggie Shepard, Actor/Director/Tutor from the North Queensland Academy of Dramatic Art in Cairns is returning to be involved again.
This year's Assessors are Emma Hands courtesy Trinity College London; Peter Hambleton - an SGCNZ selected Shakespeare's Globe International Actor Fellow, Dwarf Gloin in The Hobbit, most recently the Priest in Hand to God at Circa, regular Director/Tutor/Actor/Assessor for SGCNZ; and Heather O'Carroll, a participant in the early days of the Festivals in Taranaki, now Programme Manager at BATS. Heather is keen to see the young people, many of whom she will soon be scheduling, in their formative stages.
Selecting the SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production participants, to complete the company already partially chosen from the Regional Festivals by Direct Entry, will be SGCNZ NSSP and YSC Alumni, Stevie Hancox-Monk, Barney Olson and Bronwyn Turei.
On the Sunday afternoon, Ben Crystal, specialist in OP - Shakespeare's Original Pronunciation, will address the students followed by personnel from tertiary institutes, providing information on training options for their future careers, and SGCNZ YSC 2001 Alumnus, Jimo Rangi, now a Youth Worker in New Zealand.
"It is a thrill to have so many Alumni offer to return to be involved in one way or another, inspiring and sharing with the young people how their encounters with Shakespeare helped shape their lives," commented Dawn Sanders, SGCNZ founder and CEO.
SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company 2017 will perform brief vignettes from 7.00pm on the Sunday evening at the Opera House.
Following this will be the modelling of the constructed four winning SGCNZ Shakespeare Costume designs and announcement of the winning order of these and the SGCNZ/Morrison Music Trust Shakespeare Composition Competition, SGCNZ/Adam Foundation Static Image, Poster and DVD Cover Design Competitions and SGCNZ Essay Competition in memory of the late Patron, Ida Gaskin, in association with the Festival's significant sponsor, the University of Otago. SGCNZ Ambassador, Paul Foster-Bell MP, will MC this section, along with the announcement and presentation of the Festival Awards.
He will also host the students and teachers on the Monday morning of Queen's Birthday in the Grand Hall in Parliament for their feedback session with the Assessors and a further talk by Ben Crystal.
A major focus of the Festivals is the development of leadership skills, enquiring minds, articulate young people with the ability to think laterally about how to present Shakespeare with the currency that resonates with their own lives and others around them.
"The benefits of encouraging these qualities, as well as numerous others through the arts, are seen in a myriad occupations," added Mrs Sanders.
For the sector of the older generation who were taught Shakespeare dryly, attending the Festival is a revelation and places a whole new eyeglass on why it is relished by the young so much today.
end
For further information, illustrations and interviews, contact:
Dawn Sanders ONZM, QSM
SGCNZ CEO & Member Shakespeare Globe Council, London
M: 027 283 6016
www. sgcnz.org.nz
Bookings: www.Ticketek.co.nz or P: 0800 696 737
Tickets: $30 Adults $20 Adult SGCNZ Friends & Concessions
$12 Students $10 Student SGCNZ Friends & University of Otago
Fees will apply
Opera House prices have an additional $1.50 PAF levy
Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ, Ticketek