It's that time of the year again where aspirant actors and playwrights compete in the annual Alexander Playhouse Eastern Cape High School Drama Festival.
Started in 2010 the festival, which has come to be one of the most prestigious events on the East London Dramatic Society’s calendar, challenges high school pupils to present a 30-minute play.
The plays can either be a story made up by the pupils, the dramatisation of a published short story, or even a news story.
The organising committee of the Dramsoc said the festival had grown substantially, and this year 13 schools had entered.
The first round of eliminations took place at the weekend with six out of 13 schools making it to the semifinals.
The adjudicators for this round were Carol-Ann Kelleher (formerly of Algoa FM) and George Mountjoy, a well known East London theatre personality.
The six schools are Selborne College, Stirling High School, Queenstown Girls’ High School, Queen’s College, Ugie High School and Gonubie High School.
They will compete to be selected as one of the top three to perform at the gala performance of excellence.
The winning school stands to walk away with the Lynette Alexander floating trophy as well as prize money sponsored by festival patron and chief adjudicator, South African playwright, director and Old Selbornian, Deon Opperman.
Opperman, along with well-known South African actor Fezile Mpela will adjudicate the final round.
The winning school last year was Hudson Park High with a play titled SHE, based on a cross-dressing young man’s chilling experiences in a homophobic society.
The gala evening, featuring the three top plays, will be held on August 20 at the Alexander Playhouse Theatre in Cambridge.
Tickets will be available at the door for R10 and Dramsoc said pupils are encouraged to support their schools, as much can be learned from watching the plays and listening to the adjudication which follows. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
Pupils take to stage to show off talents
Started in 2010 the festival, which has come to be one of the most prestigious events on the East London Dramatic Society’s calendar, challenges high school pupils to present a 30-minute play.
The plays can either be a story made up by the pupils, the dramatisation of a published short story, or even a news story.
The organising committee of the Dramsoc said the festival had grown substantially, and this year 13 schools had entered.
The first round of eliminations took place at the weekend with six out of 13 schools making it to the semifinals.
The adjudicators for this round were Carol-Ann Kelleher (formerly of Algoa FM) and George Mountjoy, a well known East London theatre personality.
The six schools are Selborne College, Stirling High School, Queenstown Girls’ High School, Queen’s College, Ugie High School and Gonubie High School.
They will compete to be selected as one of the top three to perform at the gala performance of excellence.
The winning school stands to walk away with the Lynette Alexander floating trophy as well as prize money sponsored by festival patron and chief adjudicator, South African playwright, director and Old Selbornian, Deon Opperman.
Opperman, along with well-known South African actor Fezile Mpela will adjudicate the final round.
The winning school last year was Hudson Park High with a play titled SHE, based on a cross-dressing young man’s chilling experiences in a homophobic society.
The gala evening, featuring the three top plays, will be held on August 20 at the Alexander Playhouse Theatre in Cambridge.
Tickets will be available at the door for R10 and Dramsoc said pupils are encouraged to support their schools, as much can be learned from watching the plays and listening to the adjudication which follows. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos