Central Southland College, performing their piece 'Disconnect', has won the Open section of this year's Southland regional final of Showquest held at the Civic Theatre on 25th June.

Showquest attracts thousands of primary, intermediate and secondary students annually to perform and compete against each other using elements of art, music, dance, drama, culture, and technology into a themed performance piece.

It is estimated up to 7,500 students from more than 200 schools were involved in the 2024 competition.

Southland judges Julie Smith, Travis Luke and Ashleigh Reid ranked local school teams based on their production, performance, movement, and theme.

 Student leader of the winning open section - Central Southland College's Keeley Bailey said she was really proud of everyone and what they did.

"A big thank you to all the staff and all the helpers who came out today; we couldn’t have done it without them.”

The Junior section was won by James Hargest College Junior, with their piece entitled ‘Opportunity Overload’.

The full list of awards from Showquest Southland Open:

1st Place - Central Southland College

2nd Place - Southland Girls' High School (Senior)

3rd Place - Wakatipu High School

Best Choreography: James Hargest College (Senior)    

Highly Commended Choreography: St Hilda's Collegiate School   

Best Drama:   Logan Park High School 

Highly Commended Drama: Verdon College 

Best Lighting: Central Southland College, Dunstan High School  

Best Props: Fiordland College  

Highly Commended Props: Wakatipu High School  

Best Styling: Southland Girls' High School (Senior)               

Best Theme: Southland Girls' High School (Senior)                

Best Video Wall: Verdon College

Highly Commended Video Wall: Logan Park High School, Fiordland College

ZM Soundtrack Award: Logan Park High School   

Highly Commended Zm Soundtrack: James Hargest College (Senior), Wakatipu High School

Best Live Music: Dunstan High School  

Highly Commended Live Music: Central Southland College, St Hilda's Collegiate School

Best Original Composition (Student-Created): St Hilda's Collegiate School

Public Speaking Award: Logan Park High School  

Whetū Rangatahi - Star Of The Show: Faith From Central Southland College    

Showquest School Spirit: Dunstan High School, Central Southland College     

Full List Of Awards From Showquest Southland Junior:

1st Place- James Hargest College (Junior)

2nd Place- Southland Girls High (Junior)

Best Choreography: Southland Girls High (Junior)

Highly Commended Choreography: James Hargest College (Junior)

Best Drama:   James Hargest College (Junior              

Best Props: Southland Girls High (Junior)                

Best Theme:   Southland Girls High (Junior)          

ZM Soundtrack Award: James Hargest College Junior        

Public Speaking Award: James Hargest College (Junior)

Whetū Rangatahi - Star Of The Show: Liam From James Hargest College Junior

Showquest has been staged in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatū, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, and Southland.

A National Digital Final will name the top entry nationwide in August.