High School to represent region at Shakespeare Globe Centre

Vincent Collins and Caitlyn Friedel from Wanganui High School.

Close to 100 Year 9 to Year 13 students from Whanganui and Manawatu took part in a recent Shakespeare competition in Whanganui, with teams from Wanganui High School and Whanganui Girls’ College along with Fielding High School selected to represent the region at the Shakespeare Globe Centre, New Zealand, University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival to be held in Wellington in early June.

The student directed five minute excerpt section was won by two students from Wanganui High School. Vincent Collins and Caitlin Friedel, with a piece from Henry V. Unusually the piece is entirely in French. The pair presented their scene with a Downton Abbey feel of Butler and Countess.

The 14 minute scene, also student directed, selected came from Whanganui Girls College, with a classic piece of Witches’ scene, but done as a toy boy coming to life. Sinead McLeod, a year 13 student was the director, which involved three young girls in their bedroom making their toys come to life and acting out the scenes with Macbeth being a Toy Soldier and Lady Macbeth being a Barbie Princess.

Other awards included:

• The Gat Shack Wanganui Award for best use of Music – Wanganui High School

• Best delivery of text – Emelye Brown, Year 10, Wanganui High School

• Best Male costume – Mel Logue as Macbeth from Whanganui Girls College.