EDUCATION: KRISTIN SCHOOL
Mini NSSP 2021; Middle Row, far left Isla Sangl; Front Row, furthest right Rebecca Weatherly.
Isla Sangl and Rebecca Weatherly.
Shakespeareans soar at Kristin Over the last few years, Kristin students have played dozens of characters from a wide range of Shakespeare’s plays; they have created striking and original interpretations of scenes; they have learned a great deal and they have also enjoyed great success at the regional and national SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festivals. Kristin students have been recognised with regional awards such as Best 5 Minute Scene at the Auckland West SGCNZ University of Otago Regional Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and Most Promising Actor in 2019 and 2020. The direct entrant (one of only 24 across New Zealand) to the SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP) has been a Kristin student in 2018, 2019 and 2020. 2022 has proven to be another successful year at the Auckland West Regional Festival, with Kristin students being recognised for Best Connection Between Two Performers (Isla Sangl and Rebecca Weatherly) and as the Best 15 Minute Scene (Kelea Wendelborn, Naomi Harwood, Millieke McKay and Olivia Sewell). It is thrilling that these students will now have the opportunity to share their work with a much larger audience at the national Shakespeare Festival. In previous years our students have also been recognised at the SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn National Shakespeare Festival with awards for Outstanding Student Direction, Best Vocal Projection, Outstanding Presentation from a Tragedy, and Most Promising Actor in 2019 and Best Connection with the Audience in 2020. In 2018 and 2019, Kristin students were also selected to join the Young Shakespeare Company, representing New Zealand through training and performing at The Globe Theatre in London, and now this representation is set to continue following the most recent iteration of the National Schools Shakespeare Production (NSSP). Unfortunately for all performers based in Auckland, the Level 4 lockdown and border controls meant that no Auckland-based students were able to take part in the event. Not to be thwarted, SGCNZ instead created a mini-NSSP that took
Best Presentation from a Tragedy - National Festival. Theo Kleiman Canizares as Citizen 3, Jamie Clumpas as Citizen 1, Kester Sykes as Citizen 2, Cam Scott as Brutus
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place in Wellington from 23rd – 27th January, and two of our Kristin students were invited to attend. Isla Sangl and Rebecca Weatherly travelled to Wellington to take part in a range of workshops delivered by industry-professional tutors, and to rehearse for a public performance of ‘Wars of the Roses’. Workshops and activities during the five-day programme included an introduction to the history of the Globe Theatre and its unique connection to New Zealand; an intimacy workshop with Lori Leigh; learning and rehearsing SGCNZ’s waiata and haka, and a mystery tour made even more mysterious by the imposition of the Red setting of the Covid Protection Framework the day after the participants arrived in Wellington! Despite the many challenges faced by the group, including a lastminute change of venue due to Covid restrictions, their performance on Thursday 27th January was delivered with confidence and joy. Both Rebecca and Isla played a range of roles and enjoyed the challenges that each different role brought. Following the public performance, we were thrilled to find that both Isla and Rebecca have been selected to join the 2022 SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company. This is an immensely prestigious and exciting achievement for Isla and Rebecca, and it is even hoped that they will be able to travel to The Globe Theatre this July! Whenever they do go, they will travel with a group of talented performers from across New Zealand to learn from the outstanding tutors at Shakespeare’s Globe, before performing on the magical Globe stage. They will also have the opportunity to explore theatres and other iconic sites and activities in London and Stratfordupon-Avon. It seems clear from the recognition that Kristin students and groups have received so far that they bring great commitment, creativity and talent to their work. Kristin’s students have overcome many obstacles to achieve such great success and we are confident that they will continue to soar.
2022 has proven to be another successful year at the Auckland West Regional Festival, with Kristin students being recognised for Best Connection Between Two Performers (Isla Sangl and Rebecca Weatherly) and as the Best 15 Minute Scene (Kelea Wendelborn, Naomi Harwood, Millieke McKay and Olivia Sewell).
Issue 130 - May 2022 www.channelmag.co.nz
Midsummer Nights Dream. Kelea Wendelborn as Titania, Emma Thornton as Peaseblossom. Rebecca Weatherly as Bottom and Maya Grundy as Cobweb.
