Drama Successes

DRAMA

SHAKESPEARE SUCCESS

The Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand regional festivals were very different this year. Against all the odds the festivals still took place. Groups were required to film performances and submit them to be assessed by the judges. We are delighted to announce that Diocesan won both the five-minute and 15-minute categories. These scenes progressed to the final stage of the festival, the national finals.

Phebe Mason, Mel Uren and Rosie Leishman were the winners of the five-minute scene for the second year in a row. Their presentation of a scene from Measure for Measure was also awarded Best use of Music. The girls took a feminist twist on the play and highlighted the injustice that Isabella feels within the play.

Anisha de Silva, Hazel Francis and Phebe Mason won the coveted 15-minute scene section, beating stiff teacher-directed competition. Their version of Othello set in modern times highlighted the anguish and turmoil of Othello, played by Anisha de Silva. Anisha was rewarded with the Best Director Award 2020.

At the SGCNZ National Festival in Wellington both groups were commended on the originality of their work. Othello, directed by Anisha de Silva, was awarded two awards:

Outstanding Music/Song Award (adult- or student-directed) donated by Julie Nevett, Morrison Music Trust

– Willow Song (Othello) Directed by Anisha de Silva and performed by Hazel Francis and Phebe Mason.

Outstanding Presentation from a Tragedy Award donated by BartonRoss

Ltd – Othello Directed by Anisha de Silva and performed by Anisha de Silva, Hazel Francis and Phebe Mason.

The innovative interpretation of the struggle of Othello was singled out as the most outstanding presentation of a tragedy in the whole festival.

Anisha de Silva, Hazel Francis and Phebe Mason performing Othello.

Phebe Mason, Mel Uren and Rosie Leishman during their presentation of Measure for Measure.

Phebe and Lily performing at the workshop

SHAKESPEARE ORA AOTEAROA

Shakespeare Ora Aotearoa is a one-off event, with the support of the Ministry of Youth Development, for young people between 15 and 24 years old. Dio students Phebe Mason and Lily Loveridge were chosen to be part of this amazing experience.

During the course of a residential weekend, 30 participants will created a 5- to 10-minute play, using Shakespearean characters as inspiration to explore contemporary issues. These were filmed and made available for schools to stimulate discussion on issues, or be performed as short plays for similar purposes, or even be expandable into longer plays or films!

All participants were required to choose a Shakespeare character and bring that person’s lines, alongside a mental health, social or environmental issue they wanted to explore. They worked with Kiwi legend Peter Hambleton to develop their ideas.

THE ACTORS’ PROGRAM INTENSIVE

We are delighted that two of our Year 13 drama students were invited to join The Actors’ Program in the holidays for a weeklong intensive. The Actors’ Program is a challenging, up-to-date training course for actors, and is uniquely and directly connected to the stage and screen industries.

Luca Andrews and Anisha de Silva completed a rigorous application process to become part of an exclusive company working with the best New Zealand has to offer. Over the intensive five-day programme the girls learnt everything from screen acting to stage combat. The course is aimed at providing training for experienced actors. Luca is a seasoned professional in front of the camera, having played the lead in major films and Anisha has made a name for herself across New Zealand in theatre. Both Luca and Anisha performed in the International Theatre Festival in 2019 as part of the drama trip to Europe and attended workshops at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Red Brick Casting, London.

The girls followed in the footsteps of Sadie Sumich who completed the intensive in 2018 and Greta van den Brink who was a graduate of the One-Year Program in 2019.

LEAD ROLE FOR MELISSA

Melissa Uren (Year 12) has been cast in a professional production of a new dark comedy play called Sunrise with the Seed Theatre company.

Sunrise is about the emotional strife young adults face and the hope we can find in one another. It is centred around four young adults meeting in a support group to talk about emotional troubles. It is an observation about how our generation talks about our issues and how we can find some comfort in confiding in one another – finding hope even if we don’t currently have a solution.

Melissa plays one of the lead roles – Lee, an empathetic 14-year-old who struggles with prioritising herself over others. Melissa is the youngest of the cast of six and was selected from a pool of 50 applicants, mainly university students.

The play will be on at the Pitt Street Theatre from 30 August to 12 September.