This year
has seen some changes at Shakespeare’s Globe Centre New Zealand (SGCNZ) with a
renaming of the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare festivals to more accurately represent
the relative contributions of sponsors, and acknowledge a change in main
sponsor from University of Otago to Victoria University Wellington, so that now
the same festival rejoices in the name: SGCNZ Victoria University of Wellington
National Shakespeare Festival.
Last weekend, the Manawatū /Whanganui Regional element of the Festival took place
at The Globe theatre in Palmerston North. Four schools were represented,
presenting a large number of scenes, including three scenes from PNBHS. Scenes
may be five or 15 minutes in length, but five minute scenes must be student
directed.
PNBHS Rector’s Company presented three scenes, one directed by Henry Bovey and
the other two directed by Mr. Mills.
Henry directed and played the main role in King Lear with James Rattray as the
Duke of Kent. This scene was supported with a choral music soundscape composed
by Ben Viljoen and performed by a number of members of Manifesto, assisted by
Jaden Durston on the thunder sheet. Although only a five minute scene, it was
immediately captivating for the audience with Henry playing both King Lear and
his Fool as Lear argues with himself on the moor in a storm.
The adjudicator commented that the staging showed a clear understanding of the
wider context of the play and congratulated Henry on his engaging performance
that commanded the stage.
The next scene performed by PNBHS Rector’s Company was from Romeo and Juliet.
This set the action at a scouts jamboree, with the roles of princes and parents
taken on by scout leaders. The vendetta between scout groups takes on a
particularly vicious hue when fighting breaks out with toasted marshmallows and
marshmallow missiles. After the fight we find that Benvolio’s close friend
Romeo is shocked to find that Romeo has fallen in love with a woman?
The adjudicator commented on the great use of physicality and comedy in the
scene.
The cast:
Isaac Fox - Prologue and Romeo
James Rattray - Benvolio
Sampson - Karam Dhari
Gregory - Caidyn Caffell
Abraham - Campbell Mackintosh
Balthasar - Monson Brown
Tybalt - Jaden Durston
Montague - Tyler Thompson
Prince - Angus Taylor
The final scene presented by PNBHS Rector’s Company was from Henry IV Part 1
Act II Sc IV in which Hal and Point have played a trick on Falstaff who tries
to pretend that he was not fooled and lies his way into even more trouble.
The adjudicator said that they had “Brilliant command of the stage and
commitment to the roles” in addition he commended them on remaining true to the
script, observing that "the comedy added and utilised made the piece and
kept it thoroughly entertaining.”
The cast:
Isaac Fox - Hal
James Rattray - Poins
Jaden Durston - Francis
Henry Bovey - Falstaff
Campbell Mackintosh - Bardolph
Caidyn Caffell - Peto
Karam Dhari - Gadshill
The whole company performed some wonderful theatre and the final scene Henry IV
part 1 was selected by the adjudicator to represent the Manawatū/Whanganui
region at the National Shakespeare Festival in Wellington on Kings’ Birthday
weekend this year. In addition, Henry Bovey received the award for Best Actor
in a Male role. Henry also received a further award to recognise him as a
developing talent in performing arts.
During the festival, which will have representatives from schools all over New
Zealand, 48 students will be selected in the National Shakespeare Schools
Production, which takes place during the Term 3 to Term 4 break. This is a one
week long workshop and selection exercise, at the end of which 24 students will
be selected to for the Young Shakespeare Company 2026 and in July of 2026 they
will travel to The Globe Theatre in London, where they will work with Globe
professionals on many aspects of the craft, whilst they rehearse for a
performance on the stage of The Globe.
