Topical play impresses judges

JOY: Students of Dargaville High School celebrate their win in last Friday's Stage Challenge at Forum North. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Dargaville High School took out first place in the 2015 Stage Challenge in Whangarei with its performance called The Suspect.

The school won the Stage Challenge - held at Forum North on Friday - ahead of six other Northland schools, Bream Bay College with Men of Honour, Kamo High School with The dangers of consumerism - Money for nothing, Kerikeri High School with Invisible Children, Whangarei Boys' High School with At the Crossroads and Whangarei Intermediate with Images of Te Rangi Pai - Beautiful sky.

Students themselves chose what theme they wanted to explore and the ultimate goal is to leave a lasting impression with the audience and give them something to think about.

Last year, Whangarei Girls' High School won the event with a moving performance of Perfectly imperfect.

Stage Challenge has a vision of social change through creating an environment without drugs, alcohol or tobacco. It aims to motivate and inspire students to lead a more positive and pro-active life.

Dargaville High's theme was terrorism and the dangers of living in a climate of fear. After a terror attack on a city, life changes for its residents. Encouraged to be vigilant and suspecting all around them, the citizens mistake an innocent bystander for a terrorist. He becomes "The Suspect".

The school's performance considers who is to blame for his mistreatment.

Event Manager, Sarah-Jane Phillips said, "Dargaville High School blew us away ... they gave 100 per cent in each move they did. I loved watching their performance".

Production judge Rachel O'Gorman said the performance had a great concept with amazing, simple and effective costumes to match the theme.

In second place was Bream Bay College with Men of Honour and Kerikeri High School finished a close third.