Nineteen local high school students have monologued their hearts out in an effort to be crowned the bard of Canning.
Federal Member for Canning Andrew Hastie congratulated all who performed and brought the works of William Shakespeare to life on stage, as part of the 9th Annual Canning Shakespeare Competition, held over the weekend in the Fish Trap Theatre at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre.
“Performing one of Shakespeare’s great monologues is no easy task, but it’s a chance to be bold, take a risk, and grow through training and preparation,” he said.
“I’m proud of every student who stepped up to this challenge.”
The performances were judged by a panel of industry professionals: voice coaches Julia Moody and Deb Mitchell, and Western Australian Academy Performing Arts (WAAPA) Shakespeare expert Dr. Tom Heath. And three winners were chosen.
Congratulations to Benjamin Nicoll, who was awarded first place and received $1,000 for his outstanding performance as Lance from The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Mackenzie Harrison was awarded second place and received a prize of $750 for her impressive portrayal of Tamora from Titus Andronicus.
And Logan Waddell came in third and was awarded $500 for his captivating rendition of Macbeth.
“Thank you to everyone who participated, and to our dedicated teachers and families who supported these talented students,” Mr Hastie said.
“This competition is about more than just awards—it’s about finding our next generation of stars and encouraging students to embrace risk, build self-confidence, and master the English language.”
Mr Hastie said he is excited to continue the tradition of the Canning Shakespeare Competition, with next year marking the 10th anniversary.
The 2025 competition will enjoy the support of WAAPA and will be held at their venue, promising an even more spectacular celebration of young talent.
“We encourage even more students to participate next year and ask teachers to help guide them in discovering Shakespeare’s works and developing their performance skills,” Mr Hastie said.
