SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production 2020

Join a selection of New Zealand’s most talented student performers, directors, designers and composers for an unforgettable evening of Shakespeare!

Scenes from The Merchant of Venice, King John and Much Ado About Nothing will be directed by Katie Boyle, Alexander Sparrow and Clare Adams respectively, and performed for two nights only at The University of Otago College of Education on 2 & 3 October. 

46 of the students have been chosen from the 24 Regional and National SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festivals. 2020 was an extraordinary year, with Level 4 lockdown forcing the Festival digital for the first time in its 29-year history! These students are all meeting for the first time at NSSP, for an intensive week of workshops and rehearsals. From being cast on their first day, they have just 5 half-days of rehearsals before their first performance. They will be joined by winners of the SGCNZ/Dawn Sanders Shakespeare Costume Design Competition - sponsored by Nicole Barker and Tessa Ratcliffe - and SGCNZ/Morrison Music Trust Shakespeare Music Composition Competition, who will design the costumes and music for the production.  

It’s sure to be an unforgettable evening.