Brothers win duologue contest

Brothers David and James Barrow, 17 and 15 respectively, of St Hubert's Island, represented the Central Coast Grammar School at the state final of the Shakespeare Youth Festival last month.

They won the festival's duologue category with a piece that they wrote and performed together.

The festival is organised by Shakespeare Globe Centre Australia to encourage youth to connect with the works of Shakespeare.

The brothers, who progressed to the state final by winning the school and regional finals, cannot attend the national final because it disallows James on the basis of age.

The brothers' performances were recognised at the state final as outstanding individual performances.

David said: "We began working on the duologue in January.

"A duologue is similar to a monologue in that it has no props.

"The duologue, seven minutes long, used Skakespeare's language and modernised themes from the Merchant of Venice in terms of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

"It was a great experience and lots of fun.

"James and I have rarely performed together because of age difference.

"We've done different kinds of drama work all of our lives and want to become film directors together."

James said: "It was great to work together. We enjoy working together.

"We performed in school plays together but because of casting rarely worked (directly) with each other.

"At the moment I'm working on a script with a few of my friends."

Father, Doug Barrow, said: "I'm very proud of them."

Con Orfanos, press release, August 20