Go Globel With Luke

How now, kind sir, and welcome. I'm Luke (nice to meet you) and I'm GOING TO THE GLOBE THEATRE IN LONDON!

Whoa, I got a touch excited there. Now that all that's out of the way:

I'm one of 24 students selected from over 5500 secondary students to be a member of the prestigious Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand Young Shakespeare Company 2014 (SGCNZ YSC 2014). As part of this incredible group of young people, chosen to represent New Zealand, I'll travel to the UK from 4-23 July 2014, where I'll undertake intensive theatre workshops and rehearsals culminating in the public performance of one of Shakespeare's plays on none other than the stage of Shakespeare's Globe, London.

During the three weeks we spend in the UK, we have the opportunity to work with leading tutors and directors, see some of England's best theatre practitioners and experience first-hand the Globe Theatre and the new Sam Wanamaker Playhouse!

This experience is not only about developing my performance skills and knowledge of Shakespeare, history and theatre, but also my "ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively, to manage [my] time and energy, to lead as well as be part of a team, to support and accept support, to take direction, to develop a life-long network of like-minded peers, plus gain immeasurable self confidence through the whole experience."

There is also the bonus of performing on arguably the most famous stage in the world, and the birthplace of Elizabethan theatre!

Selection to SGCNZ YSC 2014 means I have to raise aroudabout $8500 to cover all my costs - this includes New Zealand and domestic travel and taxes, insurance, course fees, accommodation, meals, theatre tickets and incidental expenses. I've been a busy bee up until now, too, having managed to raise nearly a third of my costs through fundraising and (incredibly humbling) donations. That being said, final payments are due in May and there's only so many garage sales and sausage sizzles a boy can do!

Perhaps your only run-in with the bard was reading through Twelfth Night in fifth form English, but let me assure you, S.Dog's works are so incredibly relevant to society and our lives nowadays that once you begin to peel back the layers of any of his texts you see the world in a whole new way.

By donating to this cause you will realise the impact this experience will have on my life, as well as the countless others I cannot wait to share the excitement of Shakespeare with!

Thank you, and I cannot wait to share more of my journey with you! ?