CANNING MHR Andrew Hastie surprised the audience by performing a soliloquy from his favourite play Macbeth at the third annual Canning Shakespeare Competition at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre.
Twelve students competed for cash prizes of up to $1000, tickets to the forthcoming Julius Caesar at the centre on August 14 and the honour of becoming Canning’s best youth Shakespearean of the year.
Austin Cove Baptist College year 11 student Sharni Uchtman took first prize as Constance from Prince John.
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READ NOWSecond prize went to year 12 student Kade Chatfield from Frederick Irwin Anglican School and third prize to Abby Jennings (year 11) ) from Austin Cove.
The competition invites students aged 15-17 to submit a video performance of a monologue from one of William Shakespeare’s works.
The top 12 were selected for a final performance before an audience.
Mr Hastie said Shakespeare was one of the greatest storytellers of all time.
“His understanding of human experience and emotion is unmatched in the English language,’’ he said.
“I want our next generation of Australians to engage with this heritage, experience it and internalise it.’’
The event was co-sponsored by Senator Slade Brockman, and run in partnership with Mandurah Performing Arts Centre and Bell Shakespeare.
Results: 1, Sharni Uchtman (year 11, Austin Cove Baptist College), 2, Kade Chatfield (year 12, Frederick Irwin Anglican College), 3, Abby Jennings (year 12, Austin Cove Baptist College).