Eden Drama Festival Showcases Local Talent | Western Cape Government

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Eden Drama Festival Showcases Local Talent

29 November 2016

The Garden Route boasted plenty of local talent at the Eden Drama Festival finale in George on Saturday 26 November 2016. The festival was hosted by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) in collaboration with the Knysna Municipality, the Zabalaza Festival at the Baxter Theatre, KKNK and the Lunchbox Theatre.

Nine talented groups participated with confidence and enthusiasm, and, with their performance of Afsnypunt, Team Explosive showed that they are worthy of representing the Eden District at the KKNK in April next year. However, the adjudicators felt that Team Explosive had outgrown the development festival, stepped up to professional level, and were therefore invited to proceed directly to the main Zabalaza Festival – as were Ubumnandi Bethu after their amazing production called The Secret of Hatred.

So it was that CAY-CAY was declared the overall winner of the 2016 Eden Drama Festival for their production ’n Draaiende Wiel, with 2nd place going to home-grown talent Moonstones GT for their performance of Unspoken Words of a Woman. Samuel Jumat was named Best Director and awarded a prize of R1000 courtesy of the Lunchbox Theatre, and the complete list of winners is as follows:

  • Best Ensemble – Moonstones GT
  • Best Script – Afsnypunt (Llewellyn Bond and Samuel Jumat)
  • Best Director – Samuel Jumat
  • Best Supporting Actress – Kelly Nelson
  • Best Supporting Actor – Stephren Saayman
  • Best Actress – Britney Singrew
  • Best Actor – Llewellyn Bond
  • Best Production Runner-up – Moonstones GT
  • Best Production – CAY-CAY

DCAS project manager Moeniel Jacobs thanked the partners and stakeholders who supported the Eden Drama Festival, believing as they do in developing and investing in the youth of the area. “Well done to the youth for showing great commitment with this programme over the last six years, showing the hunger and need to better themselves with and through the arts,” he said.

CAY-CAY and Moonstones GT, as well as the winning groups and runners-up from the Overberg and Cape Winelands districts, will now have the opportunity to perform at the Artscape Arena as part of the TRI-District Festival during the Suidoosterfees.

DCAS supports young artists to showcase and develop their talents. Communities should encourage their youth to get involved in arts and culture. Let us develop our country’s dramatic talent. BETTER TOGETHER.

Media Enquiries: 

Head of Communication Service
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9877 / 076 093 4913
E-mail: Tania.Colyn@westerncape.gov.za