AISHK Shakespeare Festival 2025: A Celebration of Creativity

The Competition Finals of the 2025 AISHK Shakespeare Festival took centre stage last Friday, reaffirming the event’s status as one of our school’s most dynamic celebrations of student creativity. Now in its third year, the festival has grown from humble beginnings into a vibrant showcase of student talent, imagination, and passion for the timeless works of William Shakespeare.

This year’s festival drew over 40 entries across four distinct categories, with more than 50 students lighting up the stage during Friday’s live performances. From faithful renditions of traditional scripted scenes to bold and imaginative reinterpretations, each act reflected the creativity and courage of our students.

More than a competition, the festival was a vibrant celebration of community, creativity, and the enduring relevance of Shakespeare’s words. It was fantastic to witness the many ways students reimagined the Bard’s work—infusing centuries-old texts with fresh energy and making them resonate with today’s audiences. From musical numbers and interpretive dance to Hong Kong noir-style short films, rap videos, and even a surprise cameo from a certain American president, the finals truly had it all!

For many students, this was their first experience performing in a live theatre production—and they embraced the challenge with remarkable tenacity. A particular highlight was the participation of four separate Year 7 groups, all of whom tackled traditional scripted scenes. Their commitment to learning lines and performing with heart brought a vibrant energy to the stage and served as a powerful reminder that Shakespeare isn’t ‘too hard’—it’s alive, accessible, and full of possibility.

While we are incredibly proud of every group and individual who took part in Friday’s performances, we’re delighted to announce the winners of the 2025 Shakespeare Festival;

The Traditional Scripted Performance category was won by Alyssa Lam, Ebba Hellstrom, Jaxon Ng, Jane Kiang, Lucia Mao, Sarah Yao, and Valerie Ng of Year 9, who delivered a gripping rendition of Act 3, Scene 7 of King Lear —complete with dramatic eye-gouging and theatrical blood! Jaxon Ng’s commanding presence earned him the award for Best Individual Performer in this category.

Second place was awarded to a talented Year 7 trio—Isabel Buckley, Kim Eder, and Lauren Gee—for their compelling performance of Act 4, Scene 1 from Macbeth. Another Year 7 group, featuring Aleana Wong, Anki Wan, Charice Chan, Dakota Yee, and Stella Lai, received a Highly Commended mention for their spirited interpretation of the opening scene of King Lear.

The Creative Adaptation category showcased an extraordinary breadth of artistic expression! The top prize in this category went to Macbeth Street, a stunning Hong Kong noir-style short film that captivated audiences with its high production values and striking cinematography. This atmospheric reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragedy was brought to life by a talented Year 9 team: Jayden Kwan, Alfred Cooke, Bryn Folpp, Isaac S. Wong, Julius Pike, and Ray Xu.

Second place was awarded to Streets of V, a dynamic and rhythm-driven rap video inspired by Romeo and Juliet. This bold reinterpretation showcased the creativity and flair of Year 8 students James Cox, Felix Tjhung, Milton Kwan, Ambrose Wu, and Richard Chen. Notably, Ambrose Wu also received recognition for his artistic talents, winning the award for Best Poster Design.

The Highly Commended award went to A Musical Meander through Romeo and Juliet, a lively and heartfelt performance that blended narration, dance, and live musical renditions of Crazy in Love, All of Me, and Somewhere Only We Know. This ambitious Year 9 ensemble featured Olivia Del Pino, Bobby O’Conner, Jonah Curtis, Kynan Partridge, Oliver Rep, Sasha Malakunas, Senan Byrne, and Tristan Frenkel.

An Individual Performance Award was also presented to Thomas Pulsford of Year 9 for his spirited portrayal of Macbeth in The Great Debate, a satirical piece cleverly linked to contemporary political themes.

While this is an event that is first and foremost about the students, I also want to thank the AISHK English Department, whose tireless support and guidance made this event possible. In particular, I acknowledge Lindsay Bennie, Sian Byrne, Rebecca Lachmund, Wade Cox and Mike San Juan for their enthusiasm and dedication throughout the planning, dress rehearsal and performance period. The show would not have made it to stage without you!

As the Bard himself wrote, “All the world’s a stage,” and last Friday, it truly belonged to our students. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for the fourth AISHK Shakespeare Festival in 2027!

Jo Craig

Head of English