“To say that treading those
boards gave me a feeling of euphoria would be an understatement.” Nikki Bleyendaal treading those boards gave me a feeling of euphoria would be an understatement. There is nothing quite like stepping out onto that stage, standing in that space, on those boards, with the warm, starry night above you, speaking words written over four centuries ago. It was nothing less than surreal. We then travelled to Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, a most quaint and delightful town with such a familiar sense of Christchurch that it was almost like coming home. The slower pace and continuing heatwave made for pleasant day time wanderings, and our evenings were spent watching the masters of the Royal Shakespeare Company perform Romeo and Juliet and The Duchess of Malfi . This has been a phenomenal chance to learn from our global community and now I look forward to sharing the experience and knowledge with our local and school communities. I have not only managed to further my own personal development in education, theatre and life, but also look forward to enhancing the skills and lives of the exceptional and talented students we work with every day, starting with co-directing our upcoming combined junior production with Rangi Ruru Girls' School of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, Much Ado About Nothing . Catch it on stage in the OBT in November!
Thanks for the magnificent Shakespearience!
College Issue 35 2018
49
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