Congratulations to Year 13 student Maya Timlin, who has been awarded First Place in the 2026 SGCNZ/Ida Gaskin Shakespeare Essay Competition (Analytical Category 1).

Run by the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand (SGCNZ) in partnership with Victoria University of Wellington, the competition recognises outstanding scholarship and critical analysis of Shakespeare’s works. Maya’s winning essay explored the significance of setting in Othello, demonstrating exceptional insight and analytical skill.

As part of this achievement, Maya’s essay will be sent to the Library and Archives Department at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, where it will be preserved and made accessible to researchers and members of the public upon request. This is a significant honour and reflects the high calibre of Maya’s work.

We are incredibly proud of Maya’s accomplishment and the recognition she has received on both a national and international stage. Congratulations, Maya, on this outstanding achievement.