Cape Winelands Drama Festival Showcases Young Talent | Western Cape Government

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Cape Winelands Drama Festival Showcases Young Talent

4 September 2018

Audiences from Robertson and Worcester were mesmerised by the acting talents of drama groups from the Cape Winelands region as this leg of the drama festival came to a close on 1 September 2018 at the Worcester Town Hall, with the Robertson showcase taking place on 25 August.

The showcases were organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) in partnership with Langeberg Municipality, Breede Valley Municipality, Cape Winelands Municipality and the Baxter Theatre’s Zabalaza Festival.

A total of 16 drama groups from various areas such as Nqubela, Bonnievale. Robertson, Mbekweni and Kayamandi took part in both adjudication legs of the festival, in the hope of becoming one of the finalists. Judges selected eight groups to make it through to the final leg of the festival, where the overall winner will be selected next year.

The performances were adjudicated by Lauren Hannie and Khayelethu Anthony (both previous winners of the Zabalaza Festival) as well as Zoleka Helesi, Lyndsae Cader from Suidoosterfees and the curator or the Zabalaza Festival, Mdu Kweyama.

African Calling, Bonnievale Culture Project, Khoisan Drama Group, Team Bring It, Mahibuye Drama Group, Mbekweni Nkwenkwezi, Makupula High School and Kwakhanya Aftercare all made it through as the finalists from the Cape Winelands.

Strategy Director at the Department of Social Development, Ms Celeste Matthys attended the festival and encouraged the young performers to believe in their dreams of performing on bigger stages. “All of you here today will be taking the audience on a journey and you should be proud to tell us your stories”, she said.

Programme manager Moeniel Jacobs from DCAS said he was extremely proud of the way in which the drama festivals have grown and improved over the years. "This year’s showcases have not only surprised audiences, but adjudicators spoke about the growth of our young emerging artists' talents. The productions are gearing up to be some of the best since the programme’s inception. This year’s finals will be the best ever and people should go out of their way to make sure they are able to attend the event" he said.

All these finalists will now take part in a production workshop where they will receive further training to assist them in developing their productions to ensure that they are ready for the finale of the drama festival.

DCAS and its partners aim to develop the arts through these festivals and to expose the young talent in communities to exciting opportunities BETTER TOGETHER.

Media Enquiries: 

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