New Zealand’s leading Theatre in education company, The Ugly Shakespeare Company, concludes its 15^th National tour this Friday with a performance at Pakuranga College.

This year, as with every year since 1996, the Company has presented comedy Shakespeare to over 40,000 teenagers. The popularity of the Company is apparent by the rebooking that schools do year after year.

New Zealand’s leading Theatre in education company, The Ugly Shakespeare Company, concludes its 15^th National tour this Friday with a performance at Pakuranga College.

This year, as with every year since 1996, the Company has presented comedy Shakespeare to over 40,000 teenagers. The popularity of the Company is apparent by the rebooking that schools do year after year.

Founder and Producer and Point chevalier resident, Richard Green, is thrilled by the longevity of the “Uglies” as they are affectionately known.

“You only have to look at the comments on our Facebook page to realise the value of what we do in schools” says Green. “We now have teachers who first saw us when they were students themselves – and they are booking us based on that experience”.

Green hires actors for the USC every year, looking for strong comedic and physical theatre skills as well as an empathy with Shakespeare and young people.

“We want our audience to relate to the guys on stage, as well as our team relating to the audience”

Using traditional Shakespearian themes and text, writers re write the plays using modern references, music and ‘in jokes’.  Green, who used to write all the plays, now hires younger writers who are “down with the youth” to either write or rewrite the works for the new generation of audiences. He believes it is important that what is put in front of young audiences is relevant and topical, as that is how we create future audiences for New Zealand theatre.

“This isn’t just an exercise in Shakespeare, it is an exercise in creating a love of live performance for future generations. Without that, live theatre will die.”

They have signed a 3 year sponsorship agreement with The University of Waikato this week, which helps them on the way for another 15 years. With alumni such as Grey Lynn resident, Ben Hurley (7 Days, Billy T James award Winner) and many others who have gone on to other professional work, Green is proud of the USC’s achievements.

“ASB Community Trusts have been very supportive where Creative New Zealand has failed to pick up the importance of this type of theatre education. We are grateful for their support as well”.

The “Uglies” celebrate this Saturday 26^th June with people coming from all over New Zealand to acknowledge the work of this company.