Students promising actors

The performances of Rotorua high school student actors taking part in a Shakespeare festival at the weekend were outstanding, according to one of the event co-ordinators.

The regional Globe Centre of New Zealand University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival was held at Rotorua Lakes High School at the weekend. Two schools - John Paul College for Twelfth Night (15 minutes) and Rotorua Girls' High School for their short student-directed performance of Othello (five minutes) - won a spot at the national event being held at Wellington East Girls' High School during Queen's Birthday weekend. The other student chosen to go is Nethmi Karunanayake from Western Heights High School.

Event co-ordinator Gabrielle Thurston said the students put on amazing performances. "It was excellent - they were all very good," she said.

Mrs Thurston said drama did a lot to help young people - from being confident through to speaking publicly and teamwork, and the students gained much from being involved. "It teaches them to work as a team and to accept different cultures and have empathy ... there is so much. It's an amazing subject."

RESULTS:

Best 15 minute - Twelfth Night - John Paul College (directed by Gabrielle Thurston).

Best 5 minute Student Directed Othello Rotorua Girls' High School (directed by Soltice Morrison and Keely Elder).

Best ensemble - A Midsummer Night's Dream - John Paul College (directed by Jennifer Wicks).

Best understanding of the text - Coriolanus - John Paul College (directed by Zak Swift).

Most promising actor - James Bell - Western Heights High School.

Outstanding performances in a supporting role - Nethmi Karunanayake - Western Heights High School and Jennifer van Rouveroy - John Paul College.

Best female actor Aleisha Mitchell - Rotorua Girls' High School.

Best male actor - Zak Swift - John Paul College.

Best under-16 female actor - Rebecca Colby - John Paul College.

Best under-16 male actor - Steven Glyde - John Paul College.