However, Otago pupils Sophie Baron (16) and Chloe Robertson (17), from Dunedin, and Isabella Jack (17), from Queenstown, have expressed the bard’s words in such a way they are headed to his spiritual home at London’s Globe Theatre.
The pupils were first selected for the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand’s National Shakespeare Schools Production, from 5000 who participated in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festivals.
Now it has been announced they are among the 24 chosen from 48 to go to London in July.
They will spend two weeks in workshops at Shakespeare’s Globe and rehearse an hour-long version of a play by the writer, which they will perform at the theatre.
Chloe said because so many people were intimidated by his works she got a buzz from understanding the language.
"It’s like, yeah, I get Shakespeare."
She was "really excited" to be chosen after originally
thinking her group would not even make it to the regional section of the competition.
"Everyone was so awesome. I would have been happy with anyone going really."
She won best student director at the national Sheilah Winn competition.
Sophie said she eventually got used to the language.
"You start to understand and pick up on things."
She had acted in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Love’s Labour’s Lost, and The Merchant of Venice in her short theatre career.
Her group performed a compressed version of Othello in 15 minutes for the national competition.
"There was no setting. We just kept some of the lines and just tried to make it work and hope for the best."
Isabella said she was "over the moon" at being selected.
"I’m beyond excited. I still can’t believe it really."
She always had an "inherent passion" for drama, she said.
"I’m sort of between whether I want to pursue acting professionally or go into other pathways."
The pupils have to pay most of their own way and face the big task of raising $9250 each for flights and accommodation.
