A group of Te Puke Primary School students has won the Showquest Choice Award at a national performing arts competition.

The school won the junior section at the regional final of Showquest in June, leading to participation in the national final – pitting it against the best performances from primary and intermediate schools across the country.

Judging was based on the videos of the regional performances with the awards ceremony streamed.

Students, teachers and parents gathered at the school to watch.

When the results were announced, Te Puke Primary was named as winner of the Showquest Choice Award – the judges’ choice award.

Teacher Millie Rowe who, with Nicole Mills, oversaw the preparation and performance, said they’re “over the moon” with the result.

She said it’s given her and the school plenty of motivation to do well at the next Showquest.

“And I think it also reinforces our belief in how much the school values the arts and how important it is in giving our kids these opportunities to come out with something like that. We are just so proud of all of the time and effort that they put in.”

Rower said the Showquest Choice Award goes to the performance that didn’t necessarily score the highest, but impressed the judges in ways such as being fun, good to watch and having a good message.

There was a pause after the award had been announced, but once the students realised what it meant, there was a huge cheer.

“The kids saw our reaction then they kind of exploded,” said Rowe.

Te Puke Primary School’s Showquest performance. Photo / Chontalle Musson

“Maybe they didn’t fully understand what it might mean, then they saw our reaction and they were like ‘hey, this is awesome’.”

Showquest is a nationwide performing arts programme and a platform for youth voices to be heard, with regional events in 11 towns and cities from which the national finalists are chosen.

The message of the Te Puke Primary School performance revolved around what is possible if tech, devices and TV are suddenly no longer available to use, and how that could unleash children’s imaginations.

Held at Tauranga’s Baycourt Theatre, the regional competition offered a great opportunity for the students to perform in a big space with theatre lights, a sound system and projections.

Performance time was limited to eight minutes.

All the national finalists’ performances were featured at the streamed ceremony, giving Rowe, Mills and the students an opportunity to see what was possible.

“There were some phenomenal performances, the intermediate [schools] in particular were just amazing. So for our little school in Te Puke to come out with that Showquest award … we just couldn’t believe it.”

Rowe said seeing the other schools’ performances gave them plenty of food for thought for next year’s Showquest.

Leona Revell from Centrepoint Theatre was one of the judges.

She said Te Puke’s performance was a creative and playful performance with lovely highlights.

“The ukulele band was a sweet, heartwarming moment, and it was wonderful to see individual student strengths shine through, particularly in the circus work and the sword choreography.

“Your message about the value of imagination, the power of play, and the importance of stepping away from our devices really resonated. It’s such a timely and important reminder for all of us. Tino pai — well done!”

Fellow judge Stormy Kay said: “What a joyful, high-energy adventure! Clever, playful and totally original. A strong reminder to unplug and reconnect, especially to the parents.”