Schools battle it out into the Finals of the annual Shakespeare Drama competition
The 44th Inter-school Shakespeare Drama competition organized by the Colombo YMCA and the Rotary Club of Colombo North kicked off last week at the Lionel Wendt Theatre and was abuzz with excitement as the young students from around the country took to the stage, some for the first time, for an eventful day of theatre. This year saw 19 boys and 15 girls schools compete for the coveted titles in their respective categories.
Musaeus College
Girls Competition
The semi-final judging panel comprised Tracy Holsinger, Sabreena Niles and Hasitha Pathirana. On behalf of her colleagues Holsinger spoke at the end of the Girls’ Competition congratulating all the girls schools for setting a “high standard” that made for a tough competition and decision making. “We saw a lot of hard work,” she said beaming at the anxious faces in the audience. The overall comments from the judges were towards a general appreciation for seeing a lot of unique directorial concepts adding that a total of 25 marks were allocated for sensitivity and thought put into these concepts. There was unanimous approval by the judges on the inclusion of a strong ensemble and good use of the stage. Judges also urged casts and directors to pay attention in conveying meaning and understanding in dialogue, that speaking fast would not necessarily translate into being understood.
The judges also elaborated the need to see more real, natural connections and responses in interactions among characters on stage and said they were ideally looking for “performances that moved us”. Holsinger while addressing the audience also brought up a particular performance she says that “made us cry” although not the most polished she shares it delivered what they wanted in terms of making them “feel”.
Awards – The award for best stage craft was awarded to Bishop’s College and Best Novices Girls School was awarded to Seventh Day Adventist High School, Kandana.
The award for best supporting actress for awarded to Poshia Hettiarachchi from Gateway College Kandy for her role as Volumnia and Best Actress was a tie between Hasini Dissanayake from Devi Balika Vidyalaya for her role as ‘Helena’ and Yalindi Ratnapala from Visakha Vidyalaya for her role as Ophelia.
The girls schools that made it into the final – Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Ave Maria Convent (Negombo), Gateway College (Kandy) and Visakha Vidyalaya.
Boys Competition
D.S. Senanayake College
Speaking first on behalf of the judges was Tracy Holsinger. She acknowledged that it was a tough competition this year in the boys category as well. “That’s not trying to pacify anybody, but we’ve had a lot of surprises.” In terms of improvement, the judges felt that everyone could’ve improved with the sound effect as they felt it kept drowning out the actors and them having to shout out to be heard. “Go for lighting your actors as your main policy as opposed to anything else,”she said.
In terms of directing the judges observed two kinds of productions. One where it was an ensemble cast, when everyone depended on several key actors. And the other was where it was centred on one character . “This was where we looked and directorial concepts and how well that concept was realised by the actors,”she explained.
She took Hamlet as an example, pointing out that the amount of violence used as an effect didn’t really help understand the character. The judges maintained that Hamlet in the script is described as “gentle and noble” and his relationship with his mother and Ophelia, did not require the amount of violence which the judges saw being displayed towards those characters.
“This is Hamlet guys it’s not Game of Thrones. Even if it was that, Hamlet is Jon Snow not Ramsay Bolton,” Tracy chuckled.
She added “If something like that didn’t fit in with your overall arc it went against you. Concept is everything and we looked to see how successfully you realised that.”
She added that making the audience feel the scene, lean forward in their seats and watch what was happening and moments that really moved them, was the key .
Awards – Best stage craft – D.S. Senanayake College
Best novice school – Vidura College, Hokandara, Best supporting actor – Polonius – Lakshita Edirisinghe, Best actor – Hamlet – Haseeb Hassen. Schools in the final – Maris Stella College, D.S. Senanayake College, Wesley College and Ananda College.
A young actor from Gateway College Dehiwela
Maris Stella College
Royal College. Pix by M.A.Pushpa Kumara
St. Peter’s College
S. Thomas’ College
Seventh Day Adventist High School Kandana
| The Girls Finals will take place on September 29 at 6.30 pm and the Boys Finals will take place on September 30 from 6:30pm onward at the Bishop’s College Auditorium. Tickets will be available at the Bishop’s College Auditorium from September 26. | |