Some comments from schools 2009*
Albany Junior High School
Thanks again - for a modern, highly entertaining witty way of entering
Shakespeare's world. Our Year 7 - 10 students love the fast paced high
energy performances and are already wondering what is in store for them
next year!
Selwyn College
Brilliant performance. Both students and staff loved it. Making
the magic, humour and wonder of Shakespeare relevant and accessible to
students. Helps enormously with the teaching of Shakespeare and inspires
us to be truly inventive with our interpretation of these brilliant
works.
Mt Hobson Middle School
Hamlet - Fantastic show yet again! The kids are still "self high fiving" around the school. Very impressed and will continue to book your performances. It's a great way for the kids to understand Shakespeare
and the humour is priceless! Well done team - yet again.
Kerikeri High School
Thank you so much for including us in your tour again this year. We LOVE to host the Ugly Shakespeare Company because we know the organisation will be professional and the performance will be inspiring.
You have built quite a reputation amongst students and staff in the last
few years- we would have you for the whole school if we could. Looking
forward to seeing you again next year!
Whangarei Girls' High School
As entertaining as ever. Your actors were great and very
professional. The girls' loved the workshop. Well done. See you next year.
Otamatea High School
Great entertainment for students. They always look forward to
the group coming.
Springbank School
Thank you all for a fantastic, entertaining performance. It is so useful
for students to experience the 'fun' side of Shakespeare, it makes
studying his work so much less daunting and more understandable. The
humour was a great mixture of slapstick and sharp wit and was relevant and
appropriate to a wide age range. Thanks again!
Hawera High School
Awesome performance! Although a parody of Othello, it supported the teaching of the play that I had been doing with my seniors.
Porirua College
I have just taken up the HOD English position at the start of the year, so I 'inherited' this show. I have had experience of your shows at my previous schools (Naenae College, Newlands College and Tararua College) so I knew what to expect.
I am pleased to say that you didn't disappoint. 250- 300 odd year 9 and 10 students, all in a hall, last period of the day and no real culture of performance in the school... your cast earned
their money!
Havelock North High School
Well suited to the requirements of NCEA. The students were captivated throughout by the sheer energy & physicality of the performers.
One of the best Ugly Shakespeare’s I have seen.
Chisnallwood Intermediate
The performance was outstanding! Both students and teachers spent a lot of time laughing. The students really enjoyed it as it was based at their level. The humour used was modern day so they understood it. Can't wait for next year!
Dannevirke High
All of the students who attended the performance thought that it was not only great fun, but a great way to start the week.
The cast was regarded as being 'three extremely talented actors' in one of
the reviews carried out afterwards. The last part of another one of the
reviews reads as follows:
"The Ugly Shakespeare Company's play was an awesome performance, enjoyed
by all - young and old. The actors were so humorous and talented that
Shakespeare now appeals to a new generation. Even the young audience
demanded an encore."
Marian College
What an fantastic performance! Our students were captivated by the entire show - and the workshop afterwards was both enjoyable and a concise lesson in stagecraft. An incredibly worthwhile experience for them.
Northern Southland College
Just wonderful. The actors were so talented. The performance
was fast-paced and hilarious. WE have had outstanding feedback from the
students about how much they enjoyed it. Competition to get into the workshops was intense! Thank you so much - we can't wait to have you back
next year.
John McGlashan College
A wonderful performance with lots of energy and humour as well
as some insight into the characters. I'm looking forward to next year: we
intend booking a workshop for the drama students and a performance for
both drama and English students.
Albany Junior High School
Thanks again - for a modern, highly entertaining witty way of entering
Shakespeare's world. Our Year 7 - 10 students love the fast paced high
energy performances and are already wondering what is in store for them
next year!
Selwyn College
Brilliant performance. Both students and staff loved it. Making
the magic, humour and wonder of Shakespeare relevant and accessible to
students. Helps enormously with the teaching of Shakespeare and inspires
us to be truly inventive with our interpretation of these brilliant
works.
Mt Hobson Middle School
Hamlet - Fantastic show yet again! The kids are still "self high fiving" around the school. Very impressed and will continue to book your performances. It's a great way for the kids to understand Shakespeare
and the humour is priceless! Well done team - yet again.
Kerikeri High School
Thank you so much for including us in your tour again this year. We LOVE to host the Ugly Shakespeare Company because we know the organisation will be professional and the performance will be inspiring.
You have built quite a reputation amongst students and staff in the last
few years- we would have you for the whole school if we could. Looking
forward to seeing you again next year!
Whangarei Girls' High School
As entertaining as ever. Your actors were great and very
professional. The girls' loved the workshop. Well done. See you next year.
Otamatea High School
Great entertainment for students. They always look forward to
the group coming.
Springbank School
Thank you all for a fantastic, entertaining performance. It is so useful
for students to experience the 'fun' side of Shakespeare, it makes
studying his work so much less daunting and more understandable. The
humour was a great mixture of slapstick and sharp wit and was relevant and
appropriate to a wide age range. Thanks again!
Hawera High School
Awesome performance! Although a parody of Othello, it supported the teaching of the play that I had been doing with my seniors.
Porirua College
I have just taken up the HOD English position at the start of the year, so I 'inherited' this show. I have had experience of your shows at my previous schools (Naenae College, Newlands College and Tararua College) so I knew what to expect.
I am pleased to say that you didn't disappoint. 250- 300 odd year 9 and 10 students, all in a hall, last period of the day and no real culture of performance in the school... your cast earned
their money!
Havelock North High School
Well suited to the requirements of NCEA. The students were captivated throughout by the sheer energy & physicality of the performers.
One of the best Ugly Shakespeare’s I have seen.
Chisnallwood Intermediate
The performance was outstanding! Both students and teachers spent a lot of time laughing. The students really enjoyed it as it was based at their level. The humour used was modern day so they understood it. Can't wait for next year!
Dannevirke High
All of the students who attended the performance thought that it was not only great fun, but a great way to start the week.
The cast was regarded as being 'three extremely talented actors' in one of
the reviews carried out afterwards. The last part of another one of the
reviews reads as follows:
"The Ugly Shakespeare Company's play was an awesome performance, enjoyed
by all - young and old. The actors were so humorous and talented that
Shakespeare now appeals to a new generation. Even the young audience
demanded an encore."
Marian College
What an fantastic performance! Our students were captivated by the entire show - and the workshop afterwards was both enjoyable and a concise lesson in stagecraft. An incredibly worthwhile experience for them.
Northern Southland College
Just wonderful. The actors were so talented. The performance
was fast-paced and hilarious. WE have had outstanding feedback from the
students about how much they enjoyed it. Competition to get into the workshops was intense! Thank you so much - we can't wait to have you back
next year.
John McGlashan College
A wonderful performance with lots of energy and humour as well
as some insight into the characters. I'm looking forward to next year: we
intend booking a workshop for the drama students and a performance for
both drama and English students.
2011 Feedback
Thank you for an engaging and entertaining performance. The students’ almost constant laughter could be heard far down the corridors and they were bubbling with comments and highlights the following day.
Ruawai College
First of all - what lovely guys touring the country with your show selection for ’11. Sterling ambassadors for your company. We were delighted to host them - they did ‘UGLY’ proud.
It was another great show - full of energy, endeavour & exemplary explanation!!!!! J
Really good - the kids enjoyed
Te Puke High School
Once again, another superb performance from the boys. Students AND staff thoroughly enjoyed the interpretation of Merchant, and my Year 9 students are still raving about it.
Hawera High School
What a superb performance and the professionalism of this year's cast was excellent. It really helped us as a school that they arrived on time and were flexible enough for us to welcome them with a small powhiri. Our students who participated in the workshop were really inspired and
encouraged to get stuck into their Sheilah Winn Festival of Shakespeare rehearsals. Thank you, we really needed that!
We look forward to seeing the Uglies again in 2012. The students always look forward to them coming and can remember performances from years back. They are still going on about Macbeth Thank you!
Queen Charlotte College
Have spent a great morning with your fab guys this morning. Staff were impressed with their approach and attitude and students clearly enjoyed the performance and workshop. Poor Jared did a great job with a large number of students.
JHC Invercargill
We always enjoy your visit. Great performance, enthusiastic presentation and fun workshops. This was a great learning experience for our students and we value the opportunity to have the Company in our school. Thank-you.
Northern Southland College
I have left all the 5s in! Our girls just adore Ugly Shakespeare They get sooooooo excited when they know that the guys are coming! A great performance -and very professionally done - Thanks
Solway College
2010 Feedback
The lads also stayed and worked with 15 students doing a workshop with them. They were professional and really enjoyed what the team had taught them. The students response to the workshop was really positive and even decided to lead warm up sessions. The student’s response to
the overall performance was enjoyable and worth having watched them as they got a better understanding for Shakespeare’s work. Thank you thank you thank you to your performers they were outstanding. We will definitely have them back again next year!
BOI College
Students were very positive in their feedback- this is the note going on our web site with photos from your visit:
William Shakespeare has had a significant impact on the English language and his legacy is apparent in our teaching today. While many students struggle to see beyond the complex language, to the timeless themes, stories and humour- the Ugly Shakespeare company ensures that our students
are exposed to his work. Nearly 600 students enjoyed a taste of The Scottish Play or Othello with a unique twist on the old tales. This fast paced, slightly crazy and irreverent production, had students shrieking with laughter. Three young actors overcame the limitations of numbers with a variety of visual gags, puppet characters and gimmicks to keep the audience entertained throughout the 50 minute productions. A bonus for Senior Drama students was the workshop provided after the two
shows, with a sharing of production experiences.
Glendowie College
This was a wonderful experience. The audience was made up of students from Year 9 through to Year 13 and all of them thoroughly enjoyed the performance. The mens interaction and manner with the students was excellent and ensured the students were open to Shakespeare and
not overawed by it. I found Grae very personable and easy to workwith re: the setting up and organisation of the show. This is a really valuable educational tool and we are keen to have the troupe back again next year. They make Shakespeare relevant to a modern audience, especially those who are tentative about it. It also allows for discussion at the more senior level in relation to the traditional text. Thank you very much. We’ll see you again next year.
Kaitaia College
This was a very rewarding experience this year. We booked an evening performance and this went really well and we got great feedback from the community. At the end of each show they spoke about the career possibilities for acting and how Waikato University, their major sponsor was a possibility for future study. This was great as we are trying to push a careers focus with each subject area at school. Thank you for the opportunity to host The Ugly Shakespeare Company.
Wairoa College
Another high calibre performance by the Ugly Shakespeare Co. was extremely well received by students and teachers alike. Bringing Shakespeare's 'Othello' into today’s world was executed with great humour, wit and charm that the students could readily relate to. The great thing about this company is that their performances deliver especially useful material for NCEA practical drama discussions and as well as contemporary high quality entertainment. The Q. & A. at the end of the show is always good for the students to gain insight and information, they were given informative, intelligent answers to their many questions. Thank you Ugly Shakespeare Co. for another great production, and thanks to Waikato University, you have great ambassadors there! We look forward to seeing you again in 2011.
Havelock North High School
Thank you for an engaging and entertaining performance. The students’ almost constant laughter could be heard far down the corridors and they were bubbling with comments and highlights the following day.
Ruawai College
First of all - what lovely guys touring the country with your show selection for ’11. Sterling ambassadors for your company. We were delighted to host them - they did ‘UGLY’ proud.
It was another great show - full of energy, endeavour & exemplary explanation!!!!! J
Really good - the kids enjoyed
Te Puke High School
Once again, another superb performance from the boys. Students AND staff thoroughly enjoyed the interpretation of Merchant, and my Year 9 students are still raving about it.
Hawera High School
What a superb performance and the professionalism of this year's cast was excellent. It really helped us as a school that they arrived on time and were flexible enough for us to welcome them with a small powhiri. Our students who participated in the workshop were really inspired and
encouraged to get stuck into their Sheilah Winn Festival of Shakespeare rehearsals. Thank you, we really needed that!
We look forward to seeing the Uglies again in 2012. The students always look forward to them coming and can remember performances from years back. They are still going on about Macbeth Thank you!
Queen Charlotte College
Have spent a great morning with your fab guys this morning. Staff were impressed with their approach and attitude and students clearly enjoyed the performance and workshop. Poor Jared did a great job with a large number of students.
JHC Invercargill
We always enjoy your visit. Great performance, enthusiastic presentation and fun workshops. This was a great learning experience for our students and we value the opportunity to have the Company in our school. Thank-you.
Northern Southland College
I have left all the 5s in! Our girls just adore Ugly Shakespeare They get sooooooo excited when they know that the guys are coming! A great performance -and very professionally done - Thanks
Solway College
2010 Feedback
The lads also stayed and worked with 15 students doing a workshop with them. They were professional and really enjoyed what the team had taught them. The students response to the workshop was really positive and even decided to lead warm up sessions. The student’s response to
the overall performance was enjoyable and worth having watched them as they got a better understanding for Shakespeare’s work. Thank you thank you thank you to your performers they were outstanding. We will definitely have them back again next year!
BOI College
Students were very positive in their feedback- this is the note going on our web site with photos from your visit:
William Shakespeare has had a significant impact on the English language and his legacy is apparent in our teaching today. While many students struggle to see beyond the complex language, to the timeless themes, stories and humour- the Ugly Shakespeare company ensures that our students
are exposed to his work. Nearly 600 students enjoyed a taste of The Scottish Play or Othello with a unique twist on the old tales. This fast paced, slightly crazy and irreverent production, had students shrieking with laughter. Three young actors overcame the limitations of numbers with a variety of visual gags, puppet characters and gimmicks to keep the audience entertained throughout the 50 minute productions. A bonus for Senior Drama students was the workshop provided after the two
shows, with a sharing of production experiences.
Glendowie College
This was a wonderful experience. The audience was made up of students from Year 9 through to Year 13 and all of them thoroughly enjoyed the performance. The mens interaction and manner with the students was excellent and ensured the students were open to Shakespeare and
not overawed by it. I found Grae very personable and easy to workwith re: the setting up and organisation of the show. This is a really valuable educational tool and we are keen to have the troupe back again next year. They make Shakespeare relevant to a modern audience, especially those who are tentative about it. It also allows for discussion at the more senior level in relation to the traditional text. Thank you very much. We’ll see you again next year.
Kaitaia College
This was a very rewarding experience this year. We booked an evening performance and this went really well and we got great feedback from the community. At the end of each show they spoke about the career possibilities for acting and how Waikato University, their major sponsor was a possibility for future study. This was great as we are trying to push a careers focus with each subject area at school. Thank you for the opportunity to host The Ugly Shakespeare Company.
Wairoa College
Another high calibre performance by the Ugly Shakespeare Co. was extremely well received by students and teachers alike. Bringing Shakespeare's 'Othello' into today’s world was executed with great humour, wit and charm that the students could readily relate to. The great thing about this company is that their performances deliver especially useful material for NCEA practical drama discussions and as well as contemporary high quality entertainment. The Q. & A. at the end of the show is always good for the students to gain insight and information, they were given informative, intelligent answers to their many questions. Thank you Ugly Shakespeare Co. for another great production, and thanks to Waikato University, you have great ambassadors there! We look forward to seeing you again in 2011.
Havelock North High School
