Shakespeare festival for Kuranui pair

INTENSE: Egan Tearle and Zoe Thurston perform a five-minute scene from Richard III in preparation for the Wellington festival.PHOTO/CATHERINE ROSSITER-STEAD

Two Kuranui College drama students, Zoe Thurston and Egan Tearle, have spent the past few weeks putting on the final polish to their five-minute scene from Shakespeare's Richard III.

The Year 13 duo will be representing Wairarapa on Sunday at the National Shakespeare Festival, held at the St James Theatre, Wellington.

The pupils won their place in the finals after winning their section in the regional Sheilah Winn Festival.

Their drama teacher, Juanita McLellan, is hoping for a good result and says the pair have put in the hard yards.

"Zoe and Egan have worked tirelessly, connecting with the script and making shared decisions over how to stage their scene.

"By taking part in the competition, not only have they gained insight into the script, but also valuable skills working as a group and a great deal of confidence by performing on stage."

The pupils were lucky to have experienced Shakespeare at the London's Globe Theatre last year, when they took part in a special workshop on the Bard, and Ms McLellan believes this has given them a real understanding of Shakespearean theatre.

"The trip to the Globe Theatre has helped the whole group to really understand Shakespeare and how his stories can be brought alive on stage."

Egan and Zoe are looking forward to performing on the big stage.

"It's nothing big, we're just going, you know, to the St James Theatre to perform in front of 1000 people," said Egan. "Actually, I'm quite nervous."

"I've only performed on smaller stages so it's huge," said Zoe.