Shakespeare

St Cuthbert's College has an annual Shakespeare Soirée performance where over 60 of the famous writer’s scenes appear on stage.
Director of Drama, Ms Louise Tourelle, says the Soirée is a cherished College activity which allows any senior student to partake in a Shakespeare scene. “Shakespeare Soirée is a wonderful experience for the students. Every generation discovers the gems that Shakespeare has to offer, the richness of his text, the timelessness of the stories and the challenges that playing his roles present.”
St Cuthbert’s College’s best Shakespeare groups go on to act in the Sheilah Winn Festival of Shakespeare. Over 50,000 students have acted in the festival since its inception 16 years ago, and participation offers girls the chance to perform in a demanding atmosphere and watch other outstanding young actors and actresses from around the country.
After the St Cuthbert’s College Shakespeare Soiree there is firstly regional finals and then a national final.
The College has been fortunate enough to have won awards most years at this festival; students have won the best music composition award, the costume award and various scenes have been placed first at the regional competition and then gone onto win awards at the national final in Wellington.
From this competition students have been chosen as the best individual actors, joined the New Zealand Young Shakespeare Company and toured to London to perform at the Globe Theatre.