Winners at the Sheilah Winn | Taranaki News | Local News in Taranaki

TWENTY-NINE Year 10 – 13 St Mary’s Drama students took part in the Taranaki regionals of the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Competition, held at Stratford High School on April 29.
For some it was a daunting experience, but most enjoyed the opportunity to ‘strut their stuff’ in front of a large and receptive audience.
There were some outstanding performances done to a very high standard.
Tracey Blake directed the Year 10 group in a delightful scene from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ where spellbound Titania, queen of the fairies (Tarryn Harrison) falls in love with bumbling ass, Bottom (Tui Warbrick). Dance and movement were especially effective in this performance by a large cast.
The Year 11 group of Emma Burton-McMurray, Jessica Howatson, Rachel Sutton and Emma Buchanan were comical in their rendition of the play within a play from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ Each member of the group had the added challenge of playing two roles, and they had the audience chuckling at many a madcap antic.
Anna Crawshaw, Gillian Ashby and Cecily Shaw, Year 12, performed dramatic scenes as witches from ‘Macbeth.’ The trio, directed by Gloria Webby, created an eerie and mystical atmosphere with their chants and slinky movement.
Christie Bridgeman, Melissa Sutton and Trae Te Wiki-Wall, Year 13, were entered in the student directed section of the competition. They chose to present duologues from ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Twelfth Night.’ 
The highlight of the festival was the selection of the girls’ performance from ‘Twelfth Night’ to go forward to the National Festival, held in Wellington over Queens Birthday weekend in June. Congratulations go to performers, Trae and Christie, and director Trae on their stand out rendition; a truly wonderful achievement.