DCAS Drama Finale ends on high note

The Eden Drama Festival came to an historic end on Saturday 5 March 2022, with four of the participating groups being invited to perform at the Baxter Theatre’s annual Zabalaza Festival.

The Festival is hosted by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport  (DCAS). The participants are teams of young, amateur actors, directors and writers from the Garden Route who create and perform original productions.

The festival, now in its twelfth year, took place at the George Arts Theatre in George and attracted participants from all over the region. A total of 6 groups performed, coming from towns such as Knysna, George, Heidelberg, and Dysselsdorp.

“This has been one of the most difficult adjudication processes in all my years that I have been adjudicating at these finals,” said celebrity guest judge Abduraghman Adams. “We couldn’t decide on a winner and this shows how successful the programme has become. Our rural groups are presenting us with productions of a high standard equivalent to that of a professional showcase.”

Dysselsdorp’s Take a Bow and Heidelberg Hoerskool from Heidelberg were named Best Production and Best Production runners-up respectively, securing their places at the Zabalaza Festival. With the amazing performances on the day, the Zabalaza crew invited another group to also be part of the festival.

Joining them as invited performers will be Team Most Wanted from Swellendam, who were named as Best Ensemble. Dysselsdorp’s Take A BOW and Riversdale’s Untitled Production have also been invited to perform at the Baxter’s emerging talent showcase, which takes place from 1 to 9 March this year.

The other Eden Drama Festival award winners were:

• Best Director: Philip Botha (Take a Bow)
• Best Writer: Monicke van der Walt (Outeniqua Hoerskool)
• Best Supporting Actor: Errol Essau (Take a Bow)
• Best Supporting Actress: Thandolwethu William  (Mad Junior)
• Best Actor: Velile Marinana (Mad Junior)
• Best Actress: Jodey-Lee September (Heidelberg Hoerskool)

CEO for Suidoosterfees, Jana Hattingh, also confirmed that winners Take a Bow and runners-up Heidelberg Hoerskool would be granted the opportunity to showcase at the 2022 Suidoosterfees taking place on 29 April 2022.

Alongside the drama festival, the department has implemented the emerging artists initiative, providing previous winners of the festival with mentorship and resources as well as opportunities at these professional festivals. Samuel Jumat and Company performed his amazing production Ms Morris to an appreciative audience and will now also perform at the Zabalaza Festival on Saturday 2 April and the Suidoosterfees on 29 April.

DCAS will continue to support our province’s emerging artists to help them develop and showcase their talents.