Shakespeare Festival

Richard III – Taipuhi King (Dilworth School) as Richard and Kennedy Howse as Anne.

Amanda Yu’s Desdemona costume won the Supreme Costume Design award. Libby Nicholls’ costume design won silver.

Shakespeare Successes

Congratulations to all the Diocesan girls who entered the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand Regional Festival in the final week of Term 1. The festival was held online this year, but this did not deter our Dio thespians, who once again entered scenes from across Years 7 to 13.

We were delighted that Diocesan won both the 5-minute and 15-minute categories, advancing to the national festival. Only four scenes from the Auckland Central region were picked for the nationals, so this is a huge achievement and well deserved.

Kennedy Howse and Lizzie Peters (director) were joined by Dilworth student Taipuhi King in the winning performance from Richard III. Their work also included live music from Amanda Yu. Ella Riley and Phoebe O’Neill were also winners with their modern version of a scene from The Taming of the Shrew.

Amanda Yu (for the second year in a row) and Libby Nicholls also achieved success as finalists in the costume competition. Their designs are being made by professionals and will be taken to the Globe Theatre in the UK to be displayed in July this year.

MORE NATIONAL FINALISTS IN THE COMPETITIONS WERE:

Costume Design Competition Isobella Baggaley – Highly Commended Video Title Card Competition Georgia Galloway, Alice Graham, Charlie Sawden and Amelia Porter Poster Design Competition Hannah Flay, Katie Lott

Representing Dio, 12 students travelled to the nationals in Wellington over Queen’s Birthday weekend. The experience for these young people, with workshops and performances from 50 schools from around the country, is always second to none. As an added bonus, our students brought home the awards listed below.

RICHARD III DIOCESAN/DILWORTH PRODUCTION, DIRECTED BY LIZZIE PETERS AND KENNEDY HOWSE:

The Taming of the Shrew – Ella Riley as Katherine and Phoebe O’Neill as Petruchio. Oustanding Music/Song Award (student- or adult-directed) Outstanding Student Direction Award Lizzie Peters and Kennedy Howse Outstanding Presentation of a History Play KAM Actors’ Talent Contract Best Actor Award Taipuhi King (Dilworth School)

SGCNZ/DAWN SANDERS SHAKESPEARE COSTUME DESIGN COMPETITION

Amanda Yu – Supreme champion and National Costume designer for National Shakespeare School production 2022. Libby Nicholls – Bronze Isabella Baggaley – Commended

SGCNZ / ADAM FOUNDATION SHAKESPEARE VIDEO TITLE CARD COMPETITION

Alice Graham – Gold Charlie Sawden – Silver Georgia Gallaway – Bronze Amelia Porter – Commended

SGCNZ / ADAM FOUNDATION SHAKESPEARE POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION

Katie Lott – Gold Hannah Flay – Silver

CONTINUED SUCCESS

FOR TALIA PUA

Dio alumna Talia Pua has received an award in the 2022 Playwright’s b4 25 Competition with her play Pork and Poll Taxes. Playwrights b4 25 recognises the best new writing for the stage by writers under the age of 25. Through this competition Playmarket has nurtured young writers to successful seasons of their work both in New Zealand and internationally.

The play is a rich poetic family drama inspired by the history of the Chinese market gardeners. Set in 1891, during the poll tax era, it depicts changing family dynamics, migration and racism in Aotearoa. (See article in Dio Today, December 2021)

Talia was awarded direct entry to the National Schools’ Shakespeare Production in 2016 and she also won the Most Original Concept Award for her interpretation of a scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She was selected, nationally, for London’s Globe Theatre two-week intensive training course.

Many will remember Talia as one of Dio’s outstanding students, whose talents embraced so many platforms during her time here. Talia was one of Dio’s stars both academically and across the performing arts. As an academic highflyer, she was Dux of both the Junior School and Senior School.