For the first time several girls from Dio, learning Speech and Drama with Glenda Pearce, entered the West Auckland Performing Arts Festival on 18 and 19 June at Blockhouse Bay. Many other schools such as St Cuthbert’s, ACG Parnell and Kristin competed. Authentic performances really develop skills and they all performed superbly and confidently, with every girl winning an award. The girls enjoyed sharing their work with an appreciative and enthusiastic audience. Drama, they discovered, is about ‘making it real’. The place getters were:

Mia Reid and Mackenzie Robertson (Open) 1st paired improvisation

Evelyn Kerse (Open) 2nd dramatic scene, (10 and U-13 years) 2nd poetry speaking, 2nd character recital, Highly Commended paired improvisation

Pippa Morris. (13 and U-16 years) 3rd mime, Very Highly Commended character recital and prose speaking

Elise Ji (Open) 2nd dramatic scene, (10 and U-13) Highly Commended paired improvisation

Mia Reid, Emily Hayes, Mackenzie Robertson (Open) 3rd dramatic scene