SGCNZ 2019 University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival

Last Saturday our students competed against 16 Christchurch schools and were selected as one of the two National Representatives from the Canterbury area for the five-minute student directed scene. This is a massive achievement, and a credit to the directorial concept of Lucy Sparks.

Richard III is a play about a man, Richard of Gloucester, who wants to be King of England. He uses manipulation and deceit to make sure it happens. He murders his brothers, nephews and anyone who stands in his way to become Richard III.

In the scene performed by our students at the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival, Richard III (played by Preston Maluafiti) was trying to seduce Lady Anne (Lucy Sparks), wife of the late Edward of Westminster. This happened while Anne was mourning over the body of Henry VI, her father. Even knowing what Richard had done, Anne still succumbed to his advances. 

We head to Wellington Queen's Birthday Weekend, where we will compete against 24 other schools from around the country. It is an amazing opportunity for the students, who will also get to experience a range of workshops and tours of places such as the Beehive and Toi Whakaari, the National Drama School. The group also won the award for 'Best Use of Physical Theatre' - as Preston and Lucy were supported by four haunting ghosts, who represented people Richard had previously killed. Former student Grace Sparks came back to do some amazing prosthetic makeup for the students, showing incredibly realistic wounds and bruising.            

Congratulations to:

Lucy Sparks 

Preston Maluafiti

Elizabeth Finlay-Bliss

Mariane Jolejole

Joelina Gutierrez

Nadia Roza Luketina

Article added: Friday 05 April 2019