Dio Prepares For Festival of Shakespeare

Auckland's Diocesan School for Girls is busy preparing for the opening heats of the annual Festival of Shakespeare starting this Friday, on April 11.

This year, 13 schools are participating in the Auckland regionals. Most of the students involved are from years 10 to 13.

Bess Reynolds, coordinator of the Auckland schools involved, says this is not a competition but a festival that celebrates Shakespeare.

“The festival aims to give students an appreciation of the bard. Shakespeare's plays teach students about human relationships. His plays arise out of conflicts and collisions, the comedy and tragedy of life. Young people can relate to the characters and see a parallel in their own life.”

From the students that participate, 20 are chosen from the finals held in Wellington over Queen's Birthday Weekend to travel for a week’s intensive training at the Globe Theatre in London, England.

Most of the schools entered in the festival use Term One as preparation time.

“It's the teachers who organise and inspire the students to participate,” says Reynolds.

Emily Frost, a competitor in the festival, says of Shakespeare's plays. Once you understand the words, you understand the character. That's why I enjoy rehearsing. Every day I find something new in the language.”

The regional heats at Diocesan School for Girls are from April 11 to 13.

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