"Choice" – a work written and performed by members of the local Via Kasi Movers theatre group and directed by Ayanda Nondlwana – will be taking part in next year's National Arts Fringe Festival.
"Choice" – a work written and performed by members of the local Via Kasi Movers theatre group and directed by Ayanda Nondlwana – will be taking part in next year's National Arts Fringe Festival.
The chance to play on the Fringe is the group's prize for winning the senior category in last weekend's Makana Drama Development Festival (MDDF) which took place at the Rhodes Theatre.
The MDDF – now in its 13th year – is presented by Ubom! Eastern Cape Drama Company, supported by the Rhodes University Drama Department and sponsored by the National Arts Festival’s Creative City project.
This year it provided the platform for six local junior groups and eight senior groups to perform their work. In the Junior category, drama groups from Tantyi Lower, CM Vellem, Khutliso Daniels, Fikizolo Primary, Andrew Moyake, and the arts group Bantu Bonke, presented a variety work which tackled issues from xenophobia to domestic violence.
Ubom! says it is looking forward to these youngsters evolving into serious talents in the future. The seniors showed what the juniors can aspire to.
Seven pieces from groups Via Kasi Movers, Backyard Artists, and from high schools Khutliso Daniels, Nombulelo, Mary Waters, Archie Mbolekwa and Nathanial Nyaluza, and an eighth work from Port Alfred based Emahlanyeni Cultural Group, made up the sizeable senior festival.
Unfortunately, despite a large amount of forward planning, the Sakulutsha Theatre Group (from the Grahamstown Correctional Facility) were unable to participate in the festival as they usually do.
Ubom! says that they working on a solution to view Sakulutsha’s work so their efforts throughout the year can be acknowledged. First prize in the senior category is the winning group’s sponsored inclusion on the National Arts Festival Fringe 2016.
Last year's winners – Uyabona Ke with their production Waterline – went on to win an Ovation Award at the 2015 Festival and to perform the show at the Cape Town Fringe.
The full list of winners is:
