18 November 2019
Sarah Lawrence will next year tread the boards at the famous London Globe theatre.
Sarah (Year 13), is one of four students from Christchurch (two are from Cashmere High and one from Catholic Cathedral
College) joining 24 of the most talented young actors from around the country, as members of the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand Young Shakespeare Company.
The SGCNZ YSC website says “(the students) participate in a comprehensive and exciting package, based principally at
Shakespeare’s Globe, London,” which includes workshops, Q & A sessions with actors and directors and behind the scene tours of the Globe. Over their two weeks in London, the
Company will watch a number of professional performances, but they will also have twelve rehearsals taken by a Globe
director, of scenes from one of Shakespeare’s plays which they will then perform on the Globe stage in front of an
audience. An additional week is spent in Stratford Upon Avon where they will watch more performances and take part in
tours of the village where Shakespeare was born.
Sarah gained this opportunity through first being selected as one of 48 students for the SGCNZ National Shakespeare
Schools Production (NSSP) in September, which, along with her membership of the Court Theatre Youth Company, really
helped her develop her skills and confidence on the stage.
“It was incredible to have the experience of working with nationally and internationally recognised directors at the
NSSP, and also so much fun to work with such talented actors and creatives from around New Zealand. The experience of
playing Lady Macbeth in the Pipitea Marae on the Wellington waterfront then again in the Legislative Council Chamber in
Parliament was unforgettable.”
Sarah’s mum, Samantha, says she is thrilled for her daughter, who has grown as a performer (both as a musician and
actor), supported by the opportunities and tutoring at Rangi Ruru.
“Rangi has given Sarah the freedom to involve herself in a wide range of activities available in Christchurch and New
Zealand, alongside her academic studies. She’s fortunate to have had a lot of high-level music tuition and tutelage in
theatre, and has learnt by performance in front of an audience, rather than through a series of exams. It’s given her
confidence to take risks, artistically speaking, and really fly,” she says.
When asked if this talent and drive runs in the family, Sarah immediately mentions her 74-year-old grandfather who was a
bass operatic singer but chose not to pursue it professionally.
“He’s amazing,” she says. “He’s been performing in the last few weeks in his hometown in Australia, in a local
production of Phantom of the Opera. My mum says she remembers seeing him dressed up as the grandmother in a panto
version of Little Red Riding Hood, dancing to the Time Warp. Mum was my age at the time and was ready to be completely
embarrassed, but was so proud of him when she saw how talented he was. I love that story,” she says.
Sarah will sit her Year 13 scholarship drama examination soon, under the tuition of Peter Rutherford, the Director of
Theatre Arts at Rangi, and has already completed her scholarship music exam under Janet Kingsbury, Rangi Ruru’s Director
of Music.
She heads to the UK in July and until then will be completing her school year, at this stage intending to study Law and
Arts at Victoria University for the first half of 2020.
-Ends-