Film-maker launches drama workshops

Gaylene Preston, who has made numerous feature films and documentaries, spoke at the opening ceremony of the eight-day National Youth Drama School in Havelock North, which will culminate in performances open to the public this weekend. Photo/Duncan Brown

Hundreds of students have converged in Havelock North for a series of drama workshops that was opened by a Kiwi film heavyweight, organisers say.

School administrator Kelie Jensen said Saturday was a "full-on day" as 246 students, aged 15 to 19, arrived in Havelock North for the opening ceremony of the National Youth Drama School.

About one third of the students were local and the rest were from throughout the country; as far south as Invercargill and as far north as Kerikeri, Mrs Jensen said.

Award-winning film-maker Gaylene Preston was the keynote speaker at the event and gave a 10-minute speech to the students on Saturday.

Mrs Preston's numerous feature films and documentaries had screened at international film festivals and in 2001 she became the first film-maker to receive a Laureate Award from the NZ Arts Foundation.

Her work with the Hawke's Bay Cultural Trust on the oral histories of people who lived through the 1931 Hawke's Bay Earthquake, Survivor Stories, grew into a TV3 documentary for the 75th anniversary of the Hawke's Bay earthquake in 2006.

On Sunday the school's artistic director, Claire Keys, conducted a conversational interview with Mrs Preston, which shed more light on her extensive career, Mrs Jensen said.

Mrs Preston said the National Youth Drama School was something for Hawke's Bay to be proud of. "It's so important when you are a teenager, that if they feel like they don't fit in they find a bunch of people like this. The best thing to do for kids is help them connect with one another."

The intensive eight-day experience is led by professionals in a number of subjects, including circus skills, songwriting, improvisational comedy and TV presenting. The school is growing and registrations for this years' school had reached capacity by mid-March, Mrs Jensen said.

The students are undertaking classes this week, culminating in performances open to the public on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Havelock North High School auditorium.

The performances are free to attend, with koha welcome. For more information visit www.nyds.co.nz.