PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
This year’s production by the Wellington High School Shakespeare Society is ‘The Tempest’ directed by Eli Kent and
Phylli JasonSmith.
The WHS Shakespeare production is a completely student run event. This is the fourteenth year and fifteenth production
by the society whose notable alumni include Ruby Brunton, Charlie Bleakley and David Lawrence. This production follows
previous years’ critically acclaimed productions of ‘Richard III’ and ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’.
Co-director, Eli Kent, who also stars as Ariel, last year won numerous accolades and awards for his direction of and
performance in a segment of ‘Cymbeline’ in the National Sheilah Winn High School Shakespeare festival.
Co-director, Phylli JasonSmith, points out that they have taken a darker view of the play than is usually seen. “We just
thought that there were so many potentially dark characters, plots and themes in the play,” she said, “and that it would
be interesting to take this performed play in a direction that it is not conventional or common for it."
WHS deputy-principal, Elaine Lynsky, is very excited about the production. “‘The Tempest’ has all the elements of great
Shakespeare,” she said, “drama, humour and characters to die for."
ENDS