Students Shine at the Sheilah Winn Festival

A talented troupe of student actors recently impressed their audience at the University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival. Led by the creative vision of Year 12 student, Julia Wikins, they brought to life a unique rendition of Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy, Hamlet, infused with the rugged charm of a Western film.

Performers transported the audience to a world where the Danish court meets the Wild West, complete with a good old-fashioned showdown.  Clad in cowboy hats and boots, they breathed new life into familiar characters, reimagining Hamlet’s quest for vengeance against the backdrop of saloons and dusty plains.  Under Julia’s deft direction, the cast embraced the challenge of blending Shakespearean language with the cadence of Western dialogue, creating a seamless fusion of old and new. 

Alongside Westlake’s Hamlet were several entries from schools around Auckland. The fact that so many young people were able to breathe fresh vitality into a centuries-old play spoke volumes about their creativity, passion, and commitment to the dramatic arts and reminded us of Shakespeare’s versatility. Below: the actors rehearsing with a fake PROP gun, don’t worry!