WaiCol team lauded for performance

WINNERS: Wairarapa College Stage Challenge team members Gemma Pond (left) and Jennifer Clark 'gagged' by an imagined dystopian tyranny in their performance aimed at highlighting non-violent protest and the widening gap between the rich and poor in New Zealand. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

The 2015 Wairarapa College Stage Challenge team has walked away with a clutch of awards from the Wellington regional showdown in Porirua.

Event manager Sarah-Jane Phillips said the team joined battle with eight other schools from throughout the wider Wellington region in the second consecutive night of competition held at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on Tuesday evening.

Chilton St James School seized first place in the open division at the Wellington 2015 Stage Challenge and J Rock on the night with their performance called The Wake of Resistance.

Onslow College finished a close second with their performance which was titled Made for Convenience, Ms Phillips said.

The Chilton St James entry focused on New Zealand World War II heroine Nancy Wake, who was a French resistance fighter during the Nazi occupation of France. Wake was listed as the Gestapo's most wanted and had been since honoured and decorated by France and New Zealand.

The Wairarapa College team took several awards at the competition including the Ministry of Education Award of Excellence for Concept, the 5 + A Day Award of Excellence for Stage Crew, and the 5 + A Day Award given for Excellence in Lighting Design.

The Wairarapa College team had taken the prizes with a performance delivered through dance, non-violent protest and graffiti art about the widening gap between rich and poor in New Zealand.

Lauren Hale, Elena Smith-Beech, Shayla Farley and Maria Knowles choreographed the performance, which had been showcased for family and friends at a dress rehearsal at the school on Sunday night.

Ms Phillips said this year was the 23rd annual Stage Challenge extravanganza that will feature 19 shows, 12 locations, 200 schools, 16,000 participants and about 25,000 spectators.

She said the benefits for students participating in the event were significant.

"Students learn about commitment, hard work and working with and alongside others, all while being involved in an environment absolutely free of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. These are life skills that will lead students in a positive direction."

The 2015 Stage Challenge team from Makoura College competed last night at the Palmerston North regional event held at Regent on Broadway. Results were unavailable at the time of publication.