Every inch kings of the Bard's stage

CORPORATE: (From left) King Lear (Daniel Dunning, 17), Reagan (Kaitlin Laing, 17), Burgundy (Cael Friday, 16), Goneril (Megan Keene, 17), and France (Gus Syben, 17) in the corporatised teacher-directed Wairarapa College entry in the annual Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival. PHOTO SUPPLIED

The cruel tension between King Lear and an unloving daughter was given a corporate setting in a Wairarapa College teacher-directed entry in the annual regional Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival held at the school last night.

Director Gavin McEwen said the Act 1 scene from the play was chosen because "it is a strange and awkward situation".

"It is about shutting out your daughter because she cannot profess to love you more than her sisters."

Mr McEwen said the uncomfortable scene was given a new take and performed in a modern corporate world.

"Our portrayal is very focused on characterisation," he said.

The Wairarapa College student-directed entry also use a corporate setting and base their work on the quote from Othello "men should be what they seem".

Year 12 directors Cael Friday, 16, and Jardyn Kyle, 16, focus on Act III Scene III where Iago starts poisoning Othello's mind and plants false ideas in his bid to "take over Othello's empire", Mr McEwen said.

The dark and murderous royal plots came ahead of a Polynesian twist that comprises another Wairarapa College entry in the annual regional festival being held at the college hall tonight.

The teacher-directed entry is from Richard III and director Gavin McEwen said the 15-minute piece features 20 senior students and is set mostly in Act III, with "bits and pieces from other parts of the historical play".

In Act III the Duke of Gloucester plots to become king, Mr McEwen said, and "kills anyone who is in his way".

Romeo and Juliet gets a Polynesian treatment with student co-directors Maria Taylor, 17, and Emily Fiu-Poufa, 17, at the helm of the student-directed entry.

Mr McEwen said the performance is based around the famous nurse scene and the students have "taken a Polynesian approach for the nurse and Juliet".

There are 23 regional festivals and the best from each will perform in Wellington in June.