University of Otago Sheilah Winn Festival of Shakespeare in Schools

With education being a key objective of SGCNZ, in 1992 the first Sheilah Winn Festival of Shakespeare in Schools was held, with seven regions taking part. Now there are twenty-one Regional Festivals. Since they began, over 55,000 students nationwide have been involved in the festivals. More than 200,000 audience view the students' performances each year. There are some 5200 students from over half the secondary schools throughout the country each year in the Regional Festivals, with around 520 chosen to participate the National Festival in Wellington over Queen's Birthday in June.

*Regional UOSWFSS: Students perform 15 minute student- or adult directed scenes, or 5 minute student-only directed scenes from any one of Shakespeare's plays. The focus is in interaction with the actors and audience with minimal set.

*National UOSWFSS: Two groups (or three if more than 300 students participate in the region) are chosen from each Regional Festival to perform at the National Festival in Wellington.

National Shakespeare Schools Production

Forty-six students are chosen from the Regional and National UOSWFSS to attend the week-long intensive, National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP). They are joined by the Supreme Winners of the SGCNZ/Bernina Shakespeare Costume Design and Dick Smith Electronics Music Composition Competitions as Student Costumier and Composer. All join for workshops each morning and rehearse every afternoon with three leading Directors, culminating in a public performance.

SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company

Through continuous assessment at NSSP, twenty-four students are chosen to form SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company. This group represents New Zealand in the UK for nearly three weeks, studying, attending performances, being rehearsed and performing at Shakespeare's Globe in London. After other theatre related tours in London, the Company attend more workshops and performances in Stratford-Upon-Avon. "A life changing experience...."

UOSWFSS Information

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