Drama Treading the boards from Dargaville to Ayr, and our auctioneering stars hold their own in a male-dominated competition.

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE...

...FROM DARGAVILLE TO AYR

Following on from a very successful year, over 100 students in 20 plays entered the New Zealand Theatre Federation One Act Play Festival. Five groups progressed to the regionals in Dargaville and Hang directed by Sarah Spicer won ‘Best Overall Production’ and ‘Best Youth Production’. The girls also won top acting awards: Anisha de Silva as ‘Best Actor’ for the second year running, Natasha Mori the ‘Excellence in Acting’ award and Hannah Flacks for acting in three plays.

In the National TheatreFest final at Toi Whakaari Drama School in Wellington, the girls wowed the audience with their piece Hang, which was praised by adjudicator Jonathan Henry for its rich complexity and vocal dexterity. Anisha de Silva scooped the top acting prize again in the finals, being awarded the ‘Jannat Aitichson Award for distinctive talent 2019’. This is the first time that an actor has won the award twice and Anisha has managed this in consecutive years. Huge congratulations to the girls and thanks to all the parents and teachers who supported them on our journey.

Sarah Spicer, with the support of Merrin Fagan and Stephen Butterworth, wrote and directed a bilingual play called Ahakoa he iti he pounamu (Although it is small it is a treasure). This play was chosen to be part of the prestigious International Ayr Theatre Festival in Scotland in July. Highly praised here in New Zealand, the international reaction was just as strong, and the girls did a questions and answers forum after the performance. The play highlighted the diversity of our community and our hopes for the future of New Zealand. It included a staggering 20 languages and extensive use of Te Reo Ma -ori.

Dramatic Success Above: Anisha de Silva with Theatre New Zealand committee members Ewen Coleman, Steven Arnold and Bryan Aitken. Below: Ahakoa he iti he pounamu being performed at the Ayr Theatre Festival.

Pippa Morris Grace Riley

International Schools’ Auction Championship

Following on from the success of Pippa Morris who became the New Zealand Schools’ Auction Champion earlier this year, Diocesan moved to the final stage of this prestigious competition – the International Schools’ Auction Championship. Established in 2007, this competition has grown across Australia and New Zealand, creating positive interaction between the real estate industry, students and schools in a proactive and educational manner.

Pippa Morris, Grace Riley and mentor Mark Sumich have been preparing for this battle of wits for the last three months. The team, along with HOD Drama Sarah Spicer, headed to Kerikeri to take on the best that New Zealand and Australia has to offer. A panel of six judges, led by acclaimed auctioneer Sabine Davison, assessed the performances. The competition was fierce and the standard very high. We are delighted to announce that Grace Riley took a silver medal, holding the title as the Runner-up International Schools Auction Champion. This is an amazing achievement for both Pippa and Grace who proved that they can hold their own in a male-dominated competition.

The live call event is a tough competition showcasing the theatrical and numerical skills of each contestant. Our students have been mentored by the best in business, Mark Sumich, chief judge and three-time Australasian champion, Aaron Davies 2019 Senior Competition champion, and Julia Rust.

ARTS WEEK

This year’s Arts Council (led by Hannah Barber-Wilson, Olivia Francis and Emma Wong She) facilitated a very successful Arts Week. Celebrating all that we love about the arts, there was something for everyone, from the Junior High School Photography Competition to Theatresports, Brass Olympics, dance performances, the Junior High School Cabaret and Dio’s Got Talent. Everyone who participated either on or off the stage thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and it was wonderful to see the girls supporting one another throughout the week’s events.

Thanks to our 2019 Arts Council as well as staff members Shelagh Thomson, Andre Worsnop, Rachael Brand, Toni Carter, Teresa Lauago, Olwyn Davidson, Glen Fleury, Samuel Cunningham, Jillian Christoff and Simon Walker for their assistance in facilitating this week.