Inter School Shakespeare Drama competition :Results for semi-finals

“Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue” William Shakespeare (Hamlet).

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By Joshua Surendraraj

The three judges at the 43^rd Inter School Shakespeare Drama competition were certain of what they were looking for and this criteria was what guided them to pick the finalists for the competition this year.

“We looked to see if you really understood what you were saying. The actors and schools that did that, were natural and were not over blown. Those schools scored well,” Tracy Holsinger tells the competitors, shortly before pronouncing the finalists for the boys category at the Lionel Wendt theatre on Wednesday (21). 

“In terms of acting we were looking for team work and ensemble. There were some great ensemble performances and if there was an award for that two schools were just superb,” she adds. 

Tracy was joined on the judging panel by Sabreena Niles and Hasitha Pathirana.

It was clear that Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar was the popular play, amongst the boy schools and was what led four of them to the finals. Wesley College,Colombo, which took to the stage early on Tuesday ( 20) rendered a tight performance Act 2 Scenes 1 and 2 of the play. They were followed on by an equally talented St Joseph’s College, Colombo, who also delivered an outstanding set . St Peter’s College were soon to follow. The three schools were the judges pick for the finals.

Royal College, Colombo was clearly the standout act from strong contenders, St Benedict’s College and Ananda College on Wednesday (21) as their performance ensured that were to join the other three schools in the finals.

Monday’s (19) proceedings at the Wendt, saw four amazingly talented Girls schools being picked for the finals. 

St Lawrence College, Colombo, the first finalists through, delivered their own rendition of Romeo and Juliet. Their amazing performance saw them through to the finals. They were followed on by Visakha Vidyalaya,Colombo who also took on Romeo and Juliet. They were strong contenders and sailed through as well.

Following the interval, it was Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo who took to the stage next. They took on Shakespeare’s ‘As You like it’ and found themselves safe in the judges hands. Newstead Girls College, Negombo came in with their take on ‘Twelfth Night’. They were soon to join Devi Balika, in the finals.

The Grand finals will take place on September 30 (Girls’ Schools) starting at 6.30 pm and October 1 (Boys’ Schools) starting at 6.00 pm at the Bishop’s College Auditorium. Tickets for the show are priced at 1500, 1000 and 500 (balcony).