14th ANNUAL SHAKESPEARE SCHOOLS FESTIVAL SA (SSFSA). Star Theatre.
SHEILA CHISHOLM attended a Saturday performance
Kseniya Filinova, founder of the Shakespeare Schools Festival SA, believes that Shakespeare has “unlimited relevance” in our society. Since 2011, when six schools entered the Festival, entry numbers have yearly increased to reach 2024’s forty-two.
Not only does study of Shakespeare’s words, plays, and political themes warn us when greed erodes honesty, and lust overcomes true love, he also helps guide us to choose a way to avoid an unhappy outcome in our own way of life. This he does through his comedies where true love never did run smooth, but love conquers all.
Rules for participating in SSFSA include condensing, into a believable 30-40 minute facsimile, a play, act or scene from one of Shakespeare’s works. Learners, guided by their educators, are expected to interact with one another, be word perfect, wear appropriate costumes (not necessarily expensive), use easily moved sets and simple props. Music, dance and song may be used to develop their chosen theme.
Each school to be commended
It’s hard work pulling everything together, and I must commend each and every one of the three schools I saw perform.
First on was The Tijger Bard performing Queen Lear. Bewigged and dressed in beautiful period costumes they told a female facsimile of King Lear’s tragedy. They timed entrances and exits well, knew their lines perfectly, and interacted with each other (but projecting their voices beyond the footlights is a technique they may need to work on).
The Hermanus High School crafted charming scenes based on Love and Shakespeare. The girls wore pretty spotted peasant skirts, and white shirts topped by matching handkerchief scarves. The boys wore matching shirts, handkerchief scarves, and dark trousers. Centre stage, a three-step-wall made possible picturesque groupings. Downstage, opposite a twin twinkling heart stand, stood an outsized heart on which the various stages of love were displayed. This group presented a cleverly constructed concept of Shakespeare’s feelings on love.
St Cyprian’s Grade 6 Drama Class presented a brilliant comically abridged version of the entire Midsummer Night’s Dream. Wearing all-over traditional black, and barefooted, the headgear, and the odd garment, identified who was who. So disciplined and schooled, were these kiddies, that when one stumbled over their cue, another quietly prompted her. Well done!
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is my favourite Shakespeare comedy, but after watching these St Cyprian’s youngsters interpretation, I think I don’t want ever to see any other.
What: 14th Annual Shakespeare Schools Festival SA (SSFSA)
Where and when: Star Theatre from 8 to 25 May 2024
Tickets: Webtickets
WS
