Jonte Savage - Young Shakespeare Company Fundraiser

Hi there! My name is Jonte Savage and I am a year 13 student at Kuranui College. This year I was selected to become a part of the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand Young Shakespeare Company (SGCNZ YSC) 2026. This means that I will be going to London in July of 2026 to represent Aotearoa on Shakespeare's own Globe stage! For three weeks myself, and a company of 23 other young actors from across New Zealand will be doing workshops, learning about Shakespeare related topics and being rehearsed to perform an hour of one of Shakespeare's plays as well as travelling to Stratford Upon Avon, where Shakespeare was born and we will see the Royal Shakespeare Company perform. I was selected via Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand's VUW Regional and National Shakespeare Festivals (SGCNZ VUW R&NSF) where I was selected from around 4,000 young people from across Aotearoa as one of 48 to be in SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production (SGCNZ NSSP). From that 24 of us were selected to become SGCNZ YSC 2026. The overall cost of this trip is $12,670 and I hope to use Boosted as a space to mount my campaign to fundraise a portion of the cost. 

As mentioned before, my name is Jonte Savage and I am a Year 13 student at Kuranui College in the Wairarapa. This year I've had the privilege of being deputy Head boy of the cultural (visual & performing arts) department within my kura. This year I poured my heart and soul into theatre, entering three pieces into the SGCNZ VUW Regional Shakespeare Festival 2025 and directed another play in Theatrefest's One Act Play competition as well as performing in several other student directed plays, and was awarded "Greatest Contribution to Drama" from my kura. I've also been heavily involved with SGCNZ's festivals and Theatrefest for the entire duration of my time at Kuranui College. 

Next year I intend to be studying Theatre and Film at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, and I want to pursue a career in the arts. 

SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company is backed and organized by Dawn Sanders, CEO of Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand. Dawn has been in charge of organising all of the SGCNZ branded events I’ve mentioned above including the SGCNZ VUW Regional and National Festivals and SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production. Dawn has been CEO of SGCNZ for over 34 years and has sent hundreds of students to the Globe Stage as part of SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company, and it is thanks to her that students across Aotearoa are able to participate and express their art within these festivals.

The total cost of the trip is around $12,670 and I will be fundraising throughout the year to reach my goal, and I am intending to use the money donated to go towards my trip.

SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company is a cast of young students from across Aotearoa, selected to represent Aotearoa on Shakespeare's Globe Stage in London. In order to be selected we needed to enter SGCNZ's Regional (and, if selected, National) Shakespeare Festival and be one of 48, out of 4,000 students to be offered a place at the SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP), an intensive 9-day long programme where we attend workshops and exercises designed to improve our abilities in the arts as well as in other careers and put on a forty minute performance  of one of Shakespeare's plays. My group performed “As You Like It".  From that, I was one of 24 students who was selected for the SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company, whereas as I mentioned before we'd be travelling to London to represent Aotearoa in July 2026. Within these three weeks in England, we will be attending more workshops and putting on another one of Shakespeare's plays, this time in the Globe Theatre. As part of the company we will be given special permission to perform on the Globe stage as it is a privilege generally given to those actors chosen each season to be in the Globe’s companies.

By supporting my journey to London with the SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company, you’re not only investing in my personal growth, but directly contributing to the cultural enrichment of the Wairarapa and wider Aotearoa arts community. The intensive training, professional guidance, and international experience I gain at the Globe will allow me to return with new skills, knowledge, and creative practices that I can share with local schools, theatre groups, and youth performers. I hope to inspire other young people to engage with the arts, especially those at my kura, and encourage them to pursue their creative passions. Upon returning, I intend to share everything I've learnt with others and so opportunities I am given are passed on. Your support helps empower the next generation of performers and strengthens the performing arts in my region and the wider country.