Madeleine SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company 2026

Hi, I’m Madeleine, a 16-year-old performer with a passion for theatre, storytelling and Shakespeare.  I’m privileged to have been selected as one of 24 students to represent New Zealand in the SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company 2026.

We’ll be travelling to London next year to train, study and perform on stage at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre… a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any performer! 

I need your help to get me there!  Every donation, big or small, brings me closer to stepping onto that historic stage.  Thank you so much for helping me make this dream come true!

My family are thrilled I have this amazing opportunity to develop as a performer and are incredibly supportive.  We’re working hard as a team with fundraising – making and selling Christmas cards, Mint Jelly, BBQ’s, busking and more.

Any money raised will go towards the cost of the trip, which is estimated at $12,670.  

This covers:

• Airfares
• Accommodation
• Meals
• Workshops
• And course fees.  

My family and I are doing all we can, and I’m working part-time, but I still need to raise funds to make this dream a reality. 

Based at Shakespeare's Globe, we spend two action packed weeks working with directors and educators, and taking part in workshops including

•  Understanding the Globe Theatre Space
• Building and Understanding Character
• Finding the Magic in Verse
• Early Modern Music
• Stage Combat
• Shakespeare and NZ Research     

With this newfound knowledge and an intense rehearsal period, we put on our own public performance!  The trip concludes at Stratford-upon-Avon where we visit Shakespeare’s birthplace.

"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." – Julius Caesar

Over many years I’ve taken every opportunity I could to train and get performance experience – from class productions and school musicals to community theatre, from regional and national competitions to screen projects. 

Performance has shaped who I am.  It’s taught me confidence, creativity, and connection.  I’m honoured to be selected from over 4000 students across New Zealand and have this amazing opportunity, organised so professionally by SGCNZ.  It will be so exciting to learn from the very best at the Globe and bring that experience home to share with others.