Get Philip to Teachers Go Global

PROGRAMME

Shakespeare’s Globe Centre NZ (SGCNZ) and  Shakespeare’s Globe Education (UK)  have worked together to create a wonderful professional and personal development course at the Globe for teachers from throughout New Zealand. First delivered in 2011, it proved so successful for all concerned that it has been offered, albeit tweaked a little, biennially ever since – except, of course during the Covid-infected years 

In July this group will participate in a comprehensive and exciting ‘package’, based principally at Shakespeare’s Globe, of workshops, Q&A sessions about the plays with actors and directors, behind the scene tours of the Globe, Rose, the National and other theatres, observe sessions with Southwark school students with Globe Education Practitioners, teach themselves and watch performances. They will also have the rare chance to be rehearsed by a Globe Director and perform 30 minutes of scenes from various Shakespeare plays. They will have this amazing opportunity to perform for invited public on the Globe stage at 11.15pm on Thursday 18 July 2024. 

PHILIP MILLS

Philip has been chosen as one of a group of teachers selected to represent New Zealand in a comprehensive two- week programme for teachers at Shakespeare’s Globe in London as a member of the prestigious SGCNZ Teachers Go Global 2024 

Philip is a teacher a Palmerston North Boys’ High School who has for several years been developing a co-curricular drama group, The Rector’s Company, that perform Shakespeare’s plays, and entries in the University of Otago SGCNZ Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival. Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing are past productions, with As You Like It coming this year. Students from this group have been selected for the National Shakespeare Schools Production, and further for the SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company.

Old boys of the company have also established their own production company in Palmerston North, Shakespeare’s North Productions, and performed productions of Macbeth and Winter’s Tale that have been very well received. Philip continues to act as a mentor and coach for these productions.

Philip is a well established performer in the Manawatū Summer Shakespeare productions in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021. For the last of these he received the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Manawatū/Whanganui Regional Theatre Awards. He has been involved in the Sunday Script Sessions at Centrepoint Theatre, and performed with other companies in Palmerston North and the wider Manawatū area.

WHY PHILIP MUST GO!

Having taught and performed Shakespeare’s works for many years, this opportunity will enable him to expand his understanding of the plays in the closest thing to their original setting. Allowing him to enrich the experience of his students in the visualization and understanding of the plays. Performing Shakespeare’s plays, as opposed to reading, enables students to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the language, which will be further enhanced by Philip’s participation in this event.

His participation will also raise the profile of Shakespeare’s language within school and will raise the standard of student performances at school. Entries in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival will also benefit from the deeper understanding and expression that he will bring to his students, with more students experiencing National Shakespeare Schools Production and joining the Young Shakespeare Company.

In the wider community, more of his students will perform not only in productions of Shakespeare’s plays, but also become more widely known in the region. His continued support for the Manawatū Summer Shakespeare could expand into a more generally creative role, in addition to performance. 

WHAT'S IT GOING TO COST?

The opportunity to attend this course has arisen late in the process for Philip. The original date for submission of applications was in November of 2024. However, at that time he had only recently undergone knee replacement surgery and felt that he would not be able to attend. 

With the extension of the closing date and a much faster than expected recovery from his surgery, Philip is now able to attend. However, in order to facilitate recovery from the surgery, and to enable him to spend more time developing his co-curricular Shakespeare work with students, he has gone from full time to part-time employment, with a consequent reduction in income. Therefore, in order to take advantage of this unanticipated opportunity he needs help to make it happen.

The largest part of these costs is airfares. Philip anticipates contributions from other organisations, as well as from the professional development budget of school, though this cannot extend to the full cost. Some funding has already been secured, and applications are in place with Creative New Zealand and other organisations for further funding, but this is contestable funding and not guaranteed.

HOW CAN YOU HELP

Philip is seeking $4,000 from boosted.org.nz to cover the airfares for this course. Just a hundred donations of $40 will make this activity take flight and enable Philip to continue to develop the students in his charge for both school and community performances. It will also enrich his own contributions to Manawatū Summer Shakespeare, and his coaching and mentoring of others outside the school setting.

TAX

Boosted is an “All or Nothing” campaign - If Philip doesn't make his target he won't receive any of the funds. So every donation, no matter what size, counts.

Remember, your donations qualify for a tax credit. NZ income earners earn a 33% tax credit on their donations, with a receipt automatically provided by The Arts Foundation. (A registered charity)