Arts News 13 June

Mary Poppins update

What a magical couple of weeks of rehearsals we have had! The show is really coming together, with some incredible work from the cast and crew. The props team has been working hard to bring the set pieces and props alive! Our costume team have been gathering some incredible pieces, and the rest of our creative team is putting the wheels in place to bring this magical show to life!
Tickets are on sale and already flying off like a kite! So be sure to get in now if you haven’t already done so!

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2024/mary-poppins2/christchurch

SMC Shakespeare Success!

During the week of the 30th of May to the 3rd of June, two teams representing SMC advertured to Wellington to attend SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival Nationals. We had an amazing experience and loved every second. The day after registration we attended workshops at Wellington East Girls College, the workshops ranged from, musical theatre, combating Shakespeare, sword fighting and singing for actors. These workshops taught us some very cool and interesting skills that we can bring back to share with the rest of the school. On Saturday and Sunday, we watched 48 different performances from schools around the country, all of which were captivating and insightful. Both our teams shone on stage, with ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’ being awarded Outstanding Costume Design (thank you to Miss Stacy Goldsworthy for your support with this). 

It was awesome to see Maddie Elstob’s costume design come to life on stage during prizegiving, and taking second place overall was an amazing achievement.
The next day, we headed to parliament to listen to the judges and assessors give their feedback on our performances. We learnt to be generous actors and to use bigger voices. Overall, our experience was incredible, and we are so glad we got to experience it. I would like to thank Ms Harrison and Laura Hewetson for coming with us and dealing with all of our energy and interesting conversations, without them this trip would not have been possible.

- Rhea Wallace, Head of Drama

On top of the festival weekend success, we offer a huge congratulations to Year 13 students Sophie Brownlie and CJay Horrey, who have been selected to represent SMC for the SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP). 

NSSP is a highly sought-after opportunity, with only 46 participants chosen nationwide from the hundreds of students participating in the festival. 

Sophie and CJay were selected from the National Finals in Wellington over King's Birthday weekend by 3 specially appointed Selectors in association with the 3 Award Assessors.  

Sophie played the role of 'Snout/Wall' in A Mid-Summer Night's Dream and was awarded Best Supporting Actor in the Regionals, and CJay played the role of Lady Anne from Richard III alongside Bridget Rooney (as Richard III).  

SGCNZ’s National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP) is a residential week-long intensive course that studies elements of Shakespeare’s works, particularly three of his plays, under the direction of leading directors.

First-rate tutors run workshops with the entire group for half of each day. In the other half, the students in their three groups rehearse with their Director until the week's grand finale: public performances of scenes from the play each cast has studied! On top of this, even more exciting experiences are added to the schedule, making a jam-packed week of friendly faces and fresh feats!

From this, around half of the participants will be selected to travel to the Globe in London as part of the SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company.

We wish Sophie and CJay all the very best on their SCGNZ  journey.  We are really proud of the hard work, passion and professionalism you have displayed in gaining this prestigious position. Massive well done!

List of all SMC awards:

SGCNZ Shakespeare Costume Design Competition: 

Finalist: Maddison Lily Elstob with her design for Tinculo, from The Tempest

Highly Commended: CJay Horrey with her design for Ariel, from The Tempest

SGCNZ Ida Gaskin Shakespeare Essay Competition:

Finalist: Holly Sawyer

SGCNZ Morrison Music Trust Shakespeare Music Composition: 

Highly Commended: Emily Chambers

SGCNZ Adam Foundation Shakespeare Video Title Card, Poster and Static Image: 

Commended: Ao (Sophia) Suo with her Static Image of Hamlet

The Big Sing 2024

Well done to our incredible Chamber Choir for their stunning performance at this year's regional heats of The Big Sing, Choral competition.
The choir sang three songs on the stage of the Town Hall, with their rendition of the Joni Mitchell classic ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ taking home the Outstanding Piece of Contemporary Music award.
You all shone so brightly on that stage, including our accompanists Anna Qiu (percussion) and Margaret Jack (Oboe), led beautifully by our wonderful Choir Director, Mrs Rachel Wilford. Congratulations to all. 

The Spoons are rocking out at the Rockquest Regional Finals!

Year 10 rockers “The Spoons” (featuring Phoebe Jones, Tiv Crozier, Ivy Mehrtens, Mae Wilkinson, and Chloe Drinkwater) took to the stage of the Ngaio Marsh Theatre at the University of Canterbury to compete with other local finalists in the SMOKEFREE ROCKQUEST Regional Finals. Performing original songs, they had a great time on stage with an active live audience.

Country Music Superstar!

Year 9 student Briar Sharp recently competed in the Auckland Country Music Entertainer of the Year competition.  Both adults and children from across New Zealand sing in different sections,  with Briar coming first in all three junior sections (Junior vocal solo, Junior gospel, and Junior Country Rock), as well as taking out the overall Junior Entertainer Award!

Briar now qualifies for Entertainer of the Year, which will be held later this year in Rotorua.

Briar also competed in the renown Golden Guitars Awards in Gore, again taking home the junior sections and the overall Junior title and converted Golden Guitar!

Briar has been singing since she was four years old, taking up guitar when she was 6.  She loves being part of the country music scene in New Zealand, which has lots of supportive people and a great community.
We are really proud of your achievements, Briar; we know a lot of hard work, practice and courage goes into performing like this, so a huge congratulations to you!