ALL the world’s a stage for a Rugby secondary school student who had the chance to perform Shakespeare’s historic Globe Theatre in London after she reached the final of a national competition.
Nia Murray-Gonsalves took to the famous stage having won her way through to the final of the English Speaking Union’s Performing Shakespeare Competition.
Competing against 15 students from around the UK, the Year 9 student from Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College skilfully delivered an act as Phoebe from the Bard’s As You Like It.
Although Nia did not win the competition, she was presented with a certificate and medal – and also took part in a Shakespeare workshop and was treated to a tour of the theatre.
Headteacher Alison Davies said: “This was a wonderful opportunity for our students to take part in, and I was very pleased that Nia reached the competition’s final and had opportunity to visit The Globe Theatre. This was a wonderful experience for her.”
Back in May, Nia joined five of her Avon Valley classmates and took part in the first rounds of the competition, in which she was up against students from a number of local schools. Following her monologue Nia was selected to progress to the competition’s final.
English teacher Ali Tinham added: “The six students who entered the competition worked really hard and learnt the monologues thoroughly. They all did themselves, and the school, proud when they performed in the first round hosted at AVS.
“It was brilliant to be able to take Nia down to London for the competition’s final; hopefully this will inspire other students to enter the competition next year.”
