Enable Tigerlily to perform on Shakespeare's Globe London - Young Shakespeare Company 2018

This year, I was extremely fortunate to have been selected as one of 24 students from across New Zealand to comprise the 2018 SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company. In July 2018, the company travels to none other than Shakespeare's Globe itself in London, to perform there and attend workshops with impressive individuals in the theatre world. All of my friends who have attended this trip before have warranted its 'life-changing' description, and I surely do not want to miss out on such a superlative!

In order to get to the stage, I was involved in acting and directing extracts from Shakespeare's plays for the SGCNZ UOSWF Sheilah Winn Shakespeare competition. In 2016, I directed a scene from 'The Winter's Tale', and this year I co-directed a scene from 'Timon of Athens' (I have an innate inclination for Shakespeare's more obscure works...). For both of the years that I've been involved in this festival, my student directed pieces have been selected to the national festival in Wellington. From this, I progressed to the National Shakespeare Schools' Production 2016 and 2017, and was elated when I received a phone call from CEO of the Shakespeare's Globe Centre New Zealand, Dawn Sanders, saying that I had been selected for the 2018 company!

This is a huge honour indeed, and I would love to be able to take up the once in a lifetime opportunity, however, current financial constraints mean this dream may be fleeting without support. I continue to help fund my costs through work and scholarships, but I am still very far away from reaching the $8500 due May. These costs cover travel, accommodation, course and workshop fees.

Although I am going to study Health Science, I still have a very deep passion for performing and for Shakespeare. Who knows what doors this experience may open for me! I can be certain that I will gain a wealth of knowledge that I aim to share amongst my community, and my passion for the theatre and for Shakespeare's works (not only the obscure ones) will only intensify.

I have played Paulina, Mark Antony, Trebonius, Timon and Hermione, please help me add one more name to the list!