The Winter’s Tale has been reduced to a 50-minute, age-appropriate presentation for 5-12 year olds by co-Director/Mentor Deborah Rea. Appointed by Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ for its 2023 Primarily Playing with Shakespeare production, Deborah is working alongside the teachers from each school and community group. A lovely range of scenes from dinner party to pastoral paddock, plus a statue (or maybe several!) which comes to life, are being rehearsed in their own schools.
On the day of the performance they will come together and four groups on each of the two lunchtimes will do a run of the whole performance for the first time sequentially in the morning, and perform for the public from 12.30pm – 1.30pm. They will end with a Jig en masse.
On Wednesday 1 November, Tamariki from Karori West Normal School, Clifton Terrace Model School, Te Aro School and Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, where they will perform that day, will charm and delight as they all relish Shakespeare’s words, messages and stories.
“I really liked performing... but it went so fast!!” – a post-performance comment from a Year 5 student last year.
The second performance will be held at the Lower Hutt Little Theatre on Monday 6 November from 12.30-1.30pm. Participants in that are from Kena Kena School in Paraparaumu, Crofton Downs Primary School, Maidstone Intermediate School, and community group, Wonderplay – Lower Hutt Homeschool Drama.
“I really liked how everybody was really friendly and kind. I loved it!” A comment from another Year 5 student in 2022.
Originally published in the First Folio 400 years ago in 1623, The Winter’s Tale is, in part considered a ‘problem play’, but is full of fun and frolics in the latter acts, set 16 years after the first two.
“Come and see how that well-known phrase ‘Exit pursued by a bear’ in the scene on the Bohemian seashore is woven into this less commonly performed play and how the children ‘get it’!” said SGCNZ CEO Dawn Sanders.
Public Bookings via: Eventfinda.co.nz
Adults $15 SGCNZ Friends $13 Students $8 (over 12) SGCNZ Student Friends $7.00 Children $2.50
Door Sales Cash or debit card only Eftpos will be available (though groups must pre-book)
Doors open at 12 noon.
Wednesday 1 November 2023 12.30pm- 1.30pm Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Karori Road entrance, Karori 6012
Monday 6 November 2023 12.30pm-1.30pm Lower Hutt Little Theatre, 2 Queen’s Drive, Lower Hutt 5010
Enquiries to Dawn E: dawn@sgcnz.org.nz M: 027 283 6016
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