Katikati teen Hannah Gourlay has lived and breathed Shakespeare for the last five years – and in 2026 she’ll tour the streets, theatres and haunts of the famous English playwright.

But first she’ll spend summer fundraising for the trip of a lifetime, which was proffered to her after entering Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand (SGCNZ) 2025’s events.

Back in April, at the SGCNZ Bay of Plenty Regional Shakespeare Festival at Mount Maunganui College, Hannah was named a direct entry into the National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP) in September. Hannah self-directed her play with fellow Year 13 Katikati student Manase Uilou to win the accolade.

At the NSSP in Wellington in September, she was one of 24 direct student entries, plus 22 from the SGCNZ National Shakespeare Festival, and two others selected from SGCNZ’s Morrison Music Trust Shakespeare Music Composition Competition and the Dawn Sanders Shakespeare Costume Design Competition.

Hannah Gourlay, pictured at the Haiku stage, will be on the stage of the Globe Theatre of London next July. Photo / Merle Cave

“There were 48 of us chosen from around New Zealand– we all did three different plays and everyone performs,” said Hannah.

International tour

From the week-long intensive course, Hannah was one of 24 chosen to be part of SGCNZ’s Young Shakespeare Company (YSC) 2026 trip – a three-week international tour in July 2026.

How does she feel about travelling to London to perform at the Globe Theatre, participate in workshops, and see performances and tour other sites? “It’s so exciting! It is a bit of money to fundraise to go – but we’ll get there.”

Hannah said her love for acting began when she was young – she’d always tried to be part of school productions. “In primary school we did ‘Robin Hood’ and I was one of the Merry Men. It’s just a really cool experience being with all the other people involved and making something together.”

The feeling stuck and when she got to college not only was there productions to participate in, but ShowQuest and the regional Shakespeare competitions.

She got involved “because they seemed pretty fun” and her five-odd years of learning, reciting and performing Shakespeare plays and verses had flown by. “And look where me it’s got me!”

Beautiful

What does she like about Shakespearean plays? “A lot of people find the language hard to decipher but it’s actually really funny a lot of the time. The poetry of the language is beautiful too,” said Hannah, who believed once people understand it found it opened up a whole new world to them. “Once you start reading you find there’s lots you love about it.”

She also said students misunderstood Shakespeare festivals. “Your performance doesn’t need to be traditional Shakespeare – you can modernise it as much as you want.”

The Year 13 student finished exams at Katikati College last week, and has been accepted into Masey University in Wellington next year to study a Bachelor of Screen Arts double majoring in Film Production and Mātauranga Toi Māori.

“I’d love to keep working the performing arts or any part of the arts or theatre world. That’s kind of where I want go.”

As for performing at the Globe Theatre in London – the stage of Shakespeare himself – Hannah didn’t know it was a possibility via SGCNZ festivals until last year, when a friend was selected. Moreover, heading to London will be her first trip abroad. “The trip is from July 3-22 within the university holidays.”

Fundraising buzz

As such, Hannah is now laser-focused on fundraising the $12,600 needed for the trip. “They [SCGNZ] lower the price as much as they can for us,” said Hannah. “The money covers our flights, accommodation, food and essentials.”

Highlights include a group performance of Shakespeare at midnight at the Globe Theatre, workshops with the leading Globe London practitioners, tutors and theatre personnel plus visits to Royal Albert Hall and Rose Theatre.

“Also, I will get to see Stratford-Upon-Avon – the 16th-century birthplace of William Shakespeare. This is where he lived and went to school.”

Mother Leonie Gourlay said Hannah, who’ll represent Katikati College, the Bay of Plenty and New Zealand, when she heads to London had received a lot of backing from the community to fundraise for the trip.

Variety Concert

The big fundraiser is a Variety Concert on Saturday, November 29, from 5.30pm-7pm at Katikati College Hall featuring performances by students of the college’s arts department and Hannah herself – plus live music, dance, kapa haka, raffles and spot prizes. Entry is via open hat donation on the night.

“The school is supplying the hall free of charge and the teachers have got behind it too,” said Leonie.

She said that the college had backed Hannah because she’d given so much to the school by being part of so many groups and activities over her years there.

This year she was head girl and the audio visual captain, training younger students to take on the role next year. She’s also been part of the college’s kapa haka group, the rock band, the concert band, and of course the arts department.

“As a result, students from all of these groups are performing at the Variety Concert because they want to support Hannah, which is really cool,” said Leonie.

Givealittle page

Hannah’s family have also started a Givealittle page – for those who can’t make it on the night but want to support her. People can donate online at: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/get-hannah-to-the-globe-theatre-london

Others fundraiser Hannah has under way includes raffles. One is to win a korowai – which was sponsored by Wellington-based business Contemporary Korowai Designs.

Hannah Gourlay wearing the korowai sponsored by Contemporary Korowai Designs that she’s raffling off to fundraise for her trip. Photo / Merle Cave

“We’d purchased one as family and gave it to Hannah (Ngati Whakaue, Te Arawa and Ngai Tahu) when she announced as head girl,” said Leonie.

In Wellington recently, Leonie and Hannah visited the shop to buy another and seek permission to raffle it – the artist said she’d sponsor it. Leonie said the half-korowai is hand-made and worth $370. The second is two 5kg buckets of Manuka honey sponsored by Kiwicoast Honey. People can purchase raffle tickets by emailing: hgourlay531@gmail.com

Very proud

Leonie said she and her husband Andrew and family are very proud of Hannah. “She’s worked very, very hard to get to this point. She’s got her finger in all these different artsy things – so it’s nice to see her get something back from her work at school and in the community.”

Hannah took painting, photography, drama, chemistry and biology subjects in Year 13 – and was undecided on which direction to head for much of this year, said Leonie. “She was pulled between the arts and science – she wanted to be a vet right up to applying for universities.” But the arts bug has stuck!