SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP)

“I will never forget NSSP 2020. It taught me many things about myself and what I was capable of .” — Caleb Arkwright NSSP Student 2020

SGCNZ NSSP SELECTIONS 2023

Kia ora, we are delighted to announce this year’s selections for NSSP, congratulations to all.

SGCNZ’s National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP) is a residential week-long intensive course, studying elements of Shakespeare’s works, in particular three of his plays, under the direction of leading directors.

First-rate tutors run workshops with the entire group for half of each day. In the other half the students in their three groups rehearse with their Director, until the grand finale of the week: public performances of scenes from the play each cast has studied! On top of this, even more exciting experiences are added into the schedule; making a jam-packed week of friendly faces and fresh feats!

“Here come the lovers, full of joy and mirth.— Joy, gentle friends! joy and fresh days of love Accompany your hearts!”

– Theseus, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act V, sc. i

SGCNZ NSSP 2023

This year NSSP will be held in Wellington at Scots College from 24 September to 2 October.  We are excitedly looking forward to meeting those students who will be chosen from the Regional and National SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Festivals and winners of the SGCNZ Costume Design and Music Composition competitions.


 

SGCNZ NSSP 2022

After chequered Covid-constrictions affecting our last 3 SGCNZ NSSP programmes, it was a relief to present this year’s event in a more traditional form.  Forty-eight students, selected from Regional Festivals, the National Festival and the winners of the Costume Design and Music Composition competitions, worked together for an intensive 9 days of workshops, tours, talks and rehearsals – in 3 groups, culminating in 2 public performances. These comprised 3 x 40-minute edited plays – Othello, Henry IV Part 2 and Twelfth Night, directed by Terry MacTavish, Jonathan Price and Hakaia Daly (both of the latter being SGCNZ Alumni).

This year the course was held residentially at Tolcarne Boarding Residence in Dunedin. The performances were at Logan Park High School in the Denise Walsh Auditorium.


SGCNZ Mini-NSSP Wellington 2021-22

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is War-of-the-Roses-724x1024.jpgIn order to accommodate students from the Auckland region who were unable to attend NSSP2021 because of the Covid-19 related travel restrictions in place at the time, a mini NSSP was held in Wellington in January 2022 with a performance of scenes, entitled Wars of the Roses, from the Henry VI trilogy, on 27 January at Te Auaha in Wellington  in a classroom due to ‘Traffic Light’ changes restricting numbers of people who could assemble in one place. The highly intensive residential programme consisted of a series of half-day workshops run by respected theatre practitioners, half-day rehearsals for War of the Roses by respected director K C Kelly and a number of other activities including a mystery tour.

Along with students selected from NSSP2021, some mini NSSP attendees were selected to go to the Globe in London as part of the SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company 2022.

 


SGCNZ NSSP 2021

We’re so excited to announce the students selected for SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production 2021!

 Click here for the National Shakespeare Schools Production List

Congratulations to all those selected – we look forward to seeing your ‘imaginary forces work’ during NSSP In October.

SGCNZ’s National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP) is a residential week-long intensive course, studying aspects of Shakespeare’s works and three of his plays in particular under the direction of leading directors.

High calibre tutors take workshops with the whole group for half of each day. For the other half, the students, in their three groups, rehearse with their Director and group for the week, culminating in public performances of scenes from the play each cast has studied. Other experiences are added into the schedule!


SGCNZ NSSP 2020

The SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production 2020 was held in Dunedin 26 September-4 October, with public performances on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October at University of Otago College of Education. Scenes from The Merchant of Venice, King John and Much Ado About Nothing were directed by Katie Boyle, Alexander Sparrow and Clare Adams respectively.

View the full list of students selected to attend SGCNZ NSSP 2020.

The 47 students, chosen from the 24 Regional and National SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festivals around the country, spent half of each day doing workshops with high calibre tutors and the other half rehearsing – starting from being cast on their first day, to performing 40 minutes from each play for the public just 5 days later. They were joined by the winners of SGCNZ Costume Design Competition and Music Composition Competition as Student Costumier and Composer.

Read the Theatreview review of the performance. Photos are available for purchase from Memory of Light Photography.


Ministry of Youth Development Survey

Participant Feedback  link

             

We are asking all participants in SGCNZ’s activities – SGCNZ UOSWSF, SGCNZ NSSP, SGCNZ YSC, SGCNZ Dance Nimble Soles, SGCNZ PPWS and Competitions between 12 and 24 years old to complete this survey from the Ministry of Youth Development.

Funding from this source is contingent on us having at least 1500 people respond  about their experience of being involved (in whatever way – acting, directing, designing, mentoring, crew, front of house, MCs, Assessors…). From the age range, it is clear that it is not just those still at school.

Any queries about this, please contact Dawn Sanders, dawn@sgcnz.org.nz M: 027 283 6016 P: 04 384 1300


PAST YEARS

SGCNZ NSSP 2019

The SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production 2019 was held at St Patrick’s College Silverstream, Upper Hutt from 29 September-7 October 2019, with public performances on Saturday 5 October at Pipitea Marae, Thorndon, and Sunday 6 October at the Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament. Scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Henry V and Macbeth were directed by Terence Crawford, Erina Daniels and James Cain respectively.

View the  list of students selected to attend SGCNZ NSSP 2019. Read the Theatreview review of the performance. Photos are available for purchase from Memory of Light Photography. Video recording of the performance is available from Glass Gecko Films.


SGCNZ NSSP 2018

The SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production 2018 was held at Tolcarne Boarding Residence, Dunedin from 29 September-7 October 2018, with public performances on Friday 8 October at College of Education Auditorium, University of Otago, and Saturday 6 October. Scenes from Love’s Labour’s LostThe Taming of the Shrew and Antony & Cleopatra were directed by Jonathon Hendry, Kim Morgan and Colin Spicer respectively.

View the  list of students selected to attend SGCNZ NSSP 2018


SGCNZ NSSP 2017

Scenes from The Winter’s Tale directed by Robin Payne, The Comedy of Errors directed by Peter Hambleton, and The Taming of the Shrew directed by Eleanor Bishop were performed by some of NZ’s most talented students. The SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production 2017 was held at Scots College, Wellington from 1-9 October 2017, with public performances on Saturday 7 October at Te Aro Room, Mac’s Function Centre, and Sunday 8 October at the Wild Theatre, Wellington Zoo.

View the list of students selected to attend SGCNZ NSSP 2017


SGCNZ NSSP 2016

400 years dead and still alive and thriving! Shakespeare’s relevance is not in the least diminished and he keeps inspiring young and old. Need proof? Then you should have watched the two SGCNZ NSSP performances on 30 September and 1 October. The SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production 2016 was definitely a show full of pure energy, young talent and, of course, the beautiful language and iconic characters who have survived the past 400 years, perpetuated and celebrated by SGCNZ throughout its 25 years. SGCNZ NSSP 2016 was held at Otago Boys’ High School Hostel. On the menu in 2016 were: Macbeth directed by Stuart Devenie, Julius Caesar  directed by Colin Spicer and The Comedy of Errors  directed by Kim Morgan.

View the full list of students selected to attend SGCNZ NSSP 2016


SGCNZ NSSP 2015

Last year’s SGCNZ NSSP was held at the Silverstream Retreat in Upper Hutt. The tightly packed week of Workshops and Rehearsals culminated in public performances featuring a 48 strong cast performing scenes from Pericles, Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It. Performances took place on 3 & 4 October at Expressions and Parliament’s Legislative Chamber.

View the full list of students selected for NSSP 2015


SGCNZ NSSP 2014

SGCNZ NSSP 2014 was at Otago Boys’ High School in Dunedin from Saturday 27 September to Sunday 5 October.

View the full list of students selected for NSSP 2014

Read a review of SGCNZ NSSP 2014


SGCNZ NSSP 2013

For SGCNZ NSSP 2013, the 48 students spent the week working with directors Stuart Devenie, Rachel Henry and Tim Spite on scenes from Cymbeline, Pericles and Richard III. There were then two fabulous performances, one at Scots College and the other in the Legislative Chamber, Parliament. We hope you got a chance to see these fine young people at work.

Download the list of students selected for NSSP 2013

Read a review of SGCNZ NSSP 2013 here


What is NSSP?

“It was a learning experience far beyond what I expected. It wasn’t an audition and it wasn’t just acting experience and tuition. SGCNZ NSSP taught me life-skills – tolerance, friendliness, camaraderie – that I couldn’t have learnt better anywhere else.” – Alexander Sparrow, SGCNZ NSSP 2010

“It was the most amazing experience in my life!” – Te Piha Niha, SGCNZ NSSP 2011

“Best week of my life. SGCNZ NSSP was a phenomenal experience that I will cherish forever.” – Nick Erasmuson, SGCNZ NSSP 2015

SGCNZ’s National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP) is a week-long intensive course, studying aspects of Shakespeare’s works and three of his plays in particular under the direction of leading directors.

High calibre tutors take workshops with the whole group for half of each day. For the other half, the students, in their three groups, rehearse with their Director and group for the week, culminating in public performances of scenes from the play each cast has studied. Other experiences are added into the schedule!

A residential course held each year in the September/October school holidays, it is based primarily in boarding schools in a different part of the country each year, with the performances either in school halls, local theatres or, if in Wellington, sometimes in the Legislative Chamber of Parliament.

Who attends?

  • Potentially 1 person selected from each of the 24 Regional Festivals – Direct Entry Student
  • Another 22 students chosen from the National Festival
  • Plus the Costume and Music Competition Winners.

All must be 15 or older on 1 March of the year of NSSP.

The Process:

In order to capture an outstanding actor not in a group selected to attend the National Festival, the Assessors from each Region have the opportunity of selecting one student to attend NSSP by direct entry. (They may attend but do not perform at the National UOSWSF.)

In addition to the 24 chosen through this process, another 22 are selected to attend NSSP from the 550 or so participants in the National UOSWSF by 3 specially appointed Selectors, in association with the 3 Award Assessors.

The Winners of the SGCNZ/Morrison Trust Shakespeare Music Composition Competition and SGCNZ Shakespeare Costume Design Competition attend NSSP as Student Composer and Costumier. The constructed four winning costumes designs are exhibited at Shakespeare’s Globe during July/August and are displayed during NSSP. At NSSP, indicative costuming is created by the Costumier to fulfil the concepts of the Directors, while the Composer works closely with the Directors to compose songs, linking music, background music and sound effects.

There is a fee of approx $1100 for each participant.

SGCNZ’s NSSP is an invaluable total package of learning experiences, arts based and personally.

Throughout the lead up and week itself, the Directors, Workshop Tutors, CEO and others interacting with these students, evaluate them as team players who have a ‘sponge-like’ attitude and can gel as a group. Of the 48 highly talented students, a group of 24 of them is chosen to form SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company, which travels to the Globe the following year.

“I felt more connected than I have ever before. Connected to myself and my feelings, connected to the people around me through honest relationships, and connected to my passion.” – Isobel McKinnon, SGCNZ NSSP 2005

“This whole experience has not only given me the determination to venture out in the world to learn new things, but also to give back to my community by passing on my new-found knowledge to others, especially back to my own community.” – Alana Haenga, SGCNZ NSSP 2011

“I can honestly say it was one of best experiences of my life. I have learnt so much in such a short space of time and made friendships with 47 boys and girls who I know will last a lifetime.” – Sophie Barrell, SGCNZ NSSP 2016


Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand most gratefully acknowledges the support for the SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production from the following:

    ministry-of-youth-development