Tags:

Play topics

Play articles

Profile: Sara Ninness

Sara NinnessName:
Sara Ninness
Age:
20
Shoe size:
7ish.
Fav song of the moment:
I'm into all the Christmas carols at the moment ^_^ A permanent favourite would have to be 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light' by Meatloaf.
Favourite Shakespeare quote:
"We know who we are, but not what we may be" - Ophelia from 'Hamlet' and no Fi I hadn't even heard that quote you chose!
How did you get into Shakespeare?
Ha ha like most students I had no choice in the matter when it came to English, but from early on in high school we were exposed to it in drama classes. Also Robert has always had a strong interest in Shakespeare's works so if you work with Robert you end up delving into that realm.
Did acting help you come out of your shell or have you always been a
performer?
Mum used to call me a drama queen, but I've always been shy to stand up in front of others or to meet new people. I thought it would be good way to gain that confidence. I ended up making fantastic friends and having a lot of fun in the process!
What's been the Shakespeare experience for you - how did young people
around the country react to the performances?
It was amazing; even if they didn't understand the language, they related well to the portrayals of the characters. It was incredible how much they grasped about what was going on. When you saw so many enthralled faces it gave such warm fuzzy feelings. Mostly we were very well received :)
Touring means you have to spend a lot of time with the rest of the cast
and crew - what were some of the best bits of touring?
We became like a family, it was really something special - and now I know so many quirks about everyone I could probably write a book about them! It was great bonding with the others while doing something we are all passionate about. I will always have fond memories of moments onstage and off ... and no Steven I'm not talking about seeing each other in our underwear all those times backstage! *Laughs*
And the worst?
Everyone has their ups and downs, and one of the hardest things was dealing with how everyone is so completely different. Especially if you're the type of person who needs your own space! It never really got to the point of arguing though because everyone did a lot of compromising. Sometimes it was simply a matter of finding a place away from each other to have some time out.

Being away from home and family and (other) friends was challenging when we were away for long stretches of time; I personally found it easier when we were up North for a whole term, as there were no trips close to Christchurch and the people we were missing. Also the travelling got to be a real challenge some days; Making deadlines, performing then driving for the rest of the day. It's great saying - "Oh I've been there!" But then it's like - "But I don't know what it's like, I just drove through it." It was also challenging when we were booked at a school and they didn't really want us there or weren't prepared for us.
Are you aiming for a professional arts / acting / entertainment career?
It was always a dream to be in a big movie and it would be amazing to be able to do screen acting. At the moment though I'm focusing on saving for my OE and experiencing things I haven't tried before. I'm going to give the stage a rest for a while - eep! It's a bit of a scary thought 'cause it's been such a big part of my life for so long.
Looking back on your amazing adventure, what will your lasting memory
be?
There have been so many incredible experiences this year that I will never forget; from children bombarding us for autographs and having morning tea or lunch put on for us, to driving through those storms that thrashed the country; we've travelled through rain so heavy it was hard to see the road, as well as through hail and snow, and the WIND my gosh! I'm amazed it didn't sweep the van into the air and fly us to our destination!

There was a time when we came off the ferry into Picton at eleven at night and made it about five minutes down the road before it broke down - and we had shows the next day on the other side of the Takaka hill; that was an adventure in and of itself! Big thanks to Carol in Picton who put us up for the night and the next day while we got it fixed. Another time we were invited over to a teacher's house for a delicious dinner and had such a wonderful time experiencing another culture while getting to know such lovely people. There are so many memories!

Another is being onstage as Titania with Steven as Oberon and trying so hard not to laugh because I could tell by the smallest twitch that he was about to laugh too. And once in our show of M and M (Mr and Mrs the Scottish Play) Fi and I had a scene together and out of the corner of our eyes a caretaker walked straight across the stage behind us, causing the whole audience to laugh - that was another moment of near-corpsing! Lastly, I will never forget our amazing country we have driven through, it's BEAUTIFUL!
Any shout outs and thank yous?
Robert, first and foremost (our director). It's thanks to him that his vision came to fruition and I'm immensely proud and happy that he gave me the opportunity to be a part of this. A big thank you to Aranui High School for getting us on our feet and supporting us throughout the year, along with our sponsers Rock Gas and Exito. Also thanks to everyone who has put time and effort into helping our venture, or simply wishing us well. My family and friends; I love them to bits and appreciate them so much more since I've been away. Their support has been a rock for me, especially when I was missing home. My boyfriend Peter; thanks for always being there for me and giving us a go long-distance. And lastly to all the schools who took a risk in booking a company just starting up, without whom we wouldn't have had a tour in the first place. Thank you!

I'd also like to second what Fi said: Please don't take Shakespeare out of schools! It's a vital part of dramatic history and it's important that students don't lose the opportunity to learn about such wonderful (and yes, challenging!) plays.