Back to Back Shakespeare Regional Champions

The Performing Arts Department at Kuranui College is experiencing a great deal of success of late, especially in the area of Shakespeare.  This year they performed a 15min scene from “Pericles: The Prince of Tyre” at the Regional Shakespeare competition, and took out the competition. 
They are now off to the National Competition which takes places over Queen’s Birthday weekend in Wellington.  Facing off against 48 other schools from around the country is a challenge, but one the students are thoroughly looking forward to.

In 2016, the group from Kuranui College also won the regional competition, and took out 2 major awards from the National Finals.  This year they are hoping to bring back further National awards.  The cast is largely the same group from last year, with a few changes from those who graduated, and those who missed the opportunity.
The nicest thing about this current performance of “Pericles: The Prince of Tyre” is the way the school community have come together to create the work.  The scene was directed by Juanita McLellan, with translation by Suzanne Murphy, choreography from Charlotte Penman, Thomas Laybourn, and Amber Spicer, make-up put together by Lauren and Chey Spicer, with Lesley Standish, and William Tabor composed the percussion pieces (and taught them to the drummers).
The scene stars Alexander Southey as Pericles, who is at sea with his wife (Grace Voice), daughter (Florence Cater) and nurse (Keziah Stonnell) when a storm threatens the ship.  The sailors convince him that his only course of action is to throw the women overboard to quell the storm.  Fortunately for him, the goddess Diana (presented as Hine-nui-te-pō, and speaking only in te reo Maori) is watching, who preserves the life of the women (Played by Amber Spicer) who returns the women back to Pericles once he has confessed of his sin.
This recent success was also shared by the 5 minute entry to the regional competition, of “Hamlet”, with Thomas Laybourn winning the award for delivery of text and Amber Spicer winning an award for Outstanding Student Direction.  These performances come hot on the heels of their summer work, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” which was a combined effort between Greytown Little Theatre and Kuranui College to stage an entire Shakespearean play outdoors at Cobblestones Museum in February.
The group are now rehearsing to be ready for the National Finals in June, and rapidly fundraising to help cover the costs of the large group to stay in Wellington for the long weekend of performances and workshops.

Photo caption;
Highlight: In 2016, the group from Kuranui College also won the regional competition, and took out 2 major awards from the National Finals