Twelve local students took to the stage on Saturday for federal MP Andrew Hastie’s third annual Canning Shakespeare Competition.
Students performed monologues from works including Hamlet, Henry IV, Henry V, Richard III, King John, Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and As You Like It in front of a panel of expert judges.
The panel included professional actress and WAAPA;s head of acting, Glenda Linscott, and Mandurah local and long-time theatre professional Merle Brown, who has been heavily involved with local theatre for years.
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The annual competition, which started in 2016, invites students aged 15-17 to submit a video performance of a monologue from one of William Shakespeare’s works.
This year, the top twelve were then selected for the final performance before a live audience and compete for cash prizes, tickets to Julius Caesar and the honour of becoming Canning’s best youth Shakespearean of the year.
Austin Cove Baptist College’s Sharni Uchtman won first place, performing as Constance from King John.
Second prize was won by Frederick Irwin Anglican School’s Kade Chatfield and third by Austin Cove Baptist College’s Abby Jennings.
In addition to prize money, Mandurah Performing Arts Centre gave the top three contestants two tickets each to Bell Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar on August 14.
This year Andrew Hastie surprised the audience by performing the Tomorrow and tomorrow… soliloquy from Macbeth, his favourite play.
“William Shakespeare is one of the greatest storytellers of all time,” Mr Hastie said.
“His understanding of human experience and emotion is unmatched in the English language.
“I want our next generation of Australians to engage with this heritage, to experience it and internalise it.
“The competition is about encouraging young people to take a risk and build self-confidence through engaging with the work of William Shakespeare.
“The performing arts are a great way to build confidence in our youth and to bring people together from all walks of life.”
The event was co-sponsored by Senator Slade Brockman, and run in partnership with Mandurah Performing Arts Centre and Bell Shakespeare.
