Shakespeare Prologue Festival

 

By Angela Fang 13YKFLE

Attendees were dazzled at the STCC Shakespeare Prologue Festival on Thursday 28 March in the Joan Holland Auditorium, where student-led creativity took centre stage! Out of 60 groups, only the top 22 were chosen to perform, each bringing Shakespearean classics to life with costumes, props, and unparalleled dedication. From the tragic depths of “Hamlet” to the comedic heights of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” these performances promised an unforgettable journey into the world of Shakespeare.

The annual event was a chance to compete for a spot in the Auckland Central Regionals the following week, and a shot at one of the awards handed out during the prize giving. Only the top 12 out of the 22 groups secured their place in the Regionals, where the competition intensified, as students then had a chance at Nationals in Wellington. Amidst the student-led productions, a special scene from “The Winter’s Tale” led by our esteemed teacher Ms. Bolton added an extra layer of excitement to the festival.

This event not only showcased the incredible creativity within our student body but also highlighted our school’s commitment to fostering artistic expression and nurturing the next generation of theatre enthusiasts. Our Performing Arts Faculty staff worked tirelessly to make the Festival happen, and our amazing tech crew led by Jeanne Zhou ensured the performances flowed seamlessly. A special thanks to our Drama teachers Ms. Harrison and Ms. Bolton for all their hard work. As the performances drew to a close, the auditorium erupted into thunderous applause for the winners of the awards and the qualifying groups, capturing the essence of a day filled with passion, talent, and the enduring spirit of Shakespeare’s timeless works.

The award winners for the evening were:

Best Connection between two actors: Charlotte Hardiman and Leelou Martin in Henry V

Best Costume Design: Bonnie Wang and Siobhan Murphy for A Midsummer Night Dream

Most effective Editing of text: Olivia Wei and Isobel Denton for Romeo & Juliet

Most effective Delivery of text: Ruby Van Rooyen for Macbeth

Best Concept: Olivia Wei and Isobel Denton for Romeo & Juliet

Most Effective Modern Interpretation: Charlotte Beech and Sasha McKenzie for Julius Caesar

Best Ensemble: Eassin Wang, Bianca Chow and Felicia Zou for The Tempest

Best Supporting Actor in a Tragedy Performance: The Witches from Macbeth – Abby Grant, Amber Hughes and Zana Levett-McSkimming

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Performance: Valerie Huang as Malvolio and Maria in Twelfth Night

Best Actor in a Tragedy Performance: Candice Liu as Hamlet in Hamlet

Best Actor in a Comedy Performance: Siobhan Murphy as the Murderer in Richard III

Best Shakespeare Group overall: The Tempest directed by Eassin Wang, Bianca Chow and Felicia Zou

Best Directors: Julia Sung, Mikayla Sieu and Siobhan Murphy for Richard III

And the twelve scenes selected to go through to Auckland Central Regionals and represent St Cuthbert’s College are:

1. The Winter’s Tale directed by Ms Bolton (Teacher Directed Scene)
2. Macbeth directed by Ruby Van Rooyen and Jifei Shao
3. Richard III directed by Julia Sung, Mikayla Sieu and Siobhan Murphy
4. Hamlet directed by Jennifer Liu and Jiham Kim
5. As You Like It directed by Shanaiya Singh-Ali and Shreya Ram
6. Macbeth directed by Abby Grant, Amber Hughes, Zana Levett-Mcskimming and Amy Brockley
7. A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Bonnie Wang and Siobhan Murphy
8. Romeo & Juliet directed by Olivia Wei and Isobel Denton
9. The Merchant of Venice directed by Hershal Randhawa and Grace McGregor-Macdonald
10. The Tempest directed by Eassin Wang, Bianca Chow and Felicia Zou
11. Julius Caesar directed by Charlotte Beech and Sasha McKenzie
12. Henry V directed by Charlotte Hardiman and Leelou Martin