Horowhenua College has again impressed judges by taking on a tricky issue in their Stage Challenge performance depicting human trafficking.
Four Horowhenua schools took part in the Palmerston North round of the national dance and drama competition on Monday at the Regent on Broadway.
Wanganui High School won the event, with Horowhenua College finishing runner-up for their production Collected Innoncence.
Manawatu College also participated in Stage Challenge, while Levin Intermediate and Ohau School took part in J Rock, the parallel event for primary schools.
All four local schools walked away with two or more awards. The teacher in charge of the Horowhenua College Stage Challenge team, Gary O’Brien, said the students chose their own topic after some had looked at human trafficking in social studies. The story planning, choreography and soundtrack design were all completely student led, as well as fundraising efforts to support their entry, he said.
“We have a bit of a history of coming up with contentious stories because ours is very much a dramatic performance; that’s very strong.”
In past years the school has tackled teen suicide and the carnage caused by drink driving. In 2010 they reached second place nationally for their depiction of author Janet Frame’s journey through New Zealand’s mental health system.
This year they received awards for drama, concept, performance skill, choreography, stage use, soundtrack and student achievement. They also won the Spirit of Stage Challenge award, which was decided by votes from participating schools. O’Brien said the winning Wanganui High School entry was very good, and his team had scored closely behind them.
Manawatu College was recognised with a Student Led award and an excellence in stage use award for their entry Impulse and Temptation, about a jealous battle between sister’s vying for the same man who are tempted to violence by the devil.
Levin Intermediate was awarded the excellence in stage use award for their ifDream Big nf production in J Rock, and joint awards for excellence in character costuming and for drama along with Ohau School.Ohau School also won the J Rock choreography award, for their entry about peer pressure and how it influences children.
– Horowhenua Mail (5 June 2014)