Student Theatre Festival

The Student Theatre Festival is a showcase at the National Arts Festival for young talent from tertiary institutions across South Africa. It is the only Student Theatre Festival of its kind in South Africa, and each university showcases one play which is eligible for various award categories.

Previous winners

2012

Sponsored by the South African Post Office

• South African Post Office Cape Triangular Award for the best director and writer: Kline Smith from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg)

• Best Overall Production: Homeless Orchestra by University of Cape Town (their award included a larger production for the 2013 Student Festival)

• Best Ensemble: Fence by the Market Theatre Laboratory

• Merit Award: Reclaiming Body – Reclaiming Self by University of the Western Cape

• Up and Coming Director: Joanna Evans from University of Cape Town

• Best Poster Design: University of Johannesburg for SA Shorts and University of Stellenbosch for Animals

2013

Sponsored by the South African Post Office

A panel of advisors comprising Gez Casey, Smal Ndaba, Christina Kennedy and Peter Terry recognised enormous potential in the next generation of professionals with two institutions featuring prominently on the awards front. The Market Theatre Lab received kudos for the poster design and overall marketing campaign of their production of Milk and Honey, and UCT taking the honours for Most Promising Student Director (Mira Sydow), Most Promising Student Writer (Mathew Baldwin, Wynne Bredenkamp and Taryn Wyngaardt), Best Student Theatre Production, and the floating Cape Triangular Trophy, for their production titled Behind Every Yawn There is a Silent Shout.

Merit Awards were presented to Jess Harrison from Rhodes University, recognising promise in directorial conceptualisation and design; to The Market Theatre Lab’s production of Milk and Honey as the production with the greatest viability for a professional run; and to Oakfields College’s Journey, the SA Post Office choice for showcasing creativity and innovation.

2014

Sponsored by the South African Post Office

• Best Student Theatre Production: Solo by Rhodes University

• Best Student Theatre Writer: Alex McCarthy and Callum Tillbury for the University of Cape Town script Uhm.

• Best Student Theatre Director: Gopala Davies for the University of Pretoria production Barbe Bleue.

• Advisors’ Award for the Best Poster: University of Witwatersrand’s Maid in Mzansi

• Festival’s Marketing Team’s Choice Award for Poster Design: Oakfield College’s poster for their production Flesh.

A panel of advisors comprising Gez Casey, Peter Terry, Warona Seane and Jacqueline Domisse recognised enormous potential amongst the seventeen university productions that were presented at the Festival this year.

2015

• Best Student Production: Void by Rhodes University

• Special Merit Certificates for design: Frankie van Straten from Rhodes University

2016

• Best Production: Nomination - Figs by (University Of Cape Town); Winner - Nyanga by Rhodes University

• Most Promising Playwright of the Year: Nominations - Thembela Madliki from Rhodes University and the cast of Pharmakon from University of the Free State for a devised script; Winner - Figs by Namisa Mdlaloze and Pueng Stewart from University Of Cape Town

• Most Promising Director: Nominations - Sarah Nansubuga from Wits University for The Village and Dara Beth of University Of Cape Town for Figs; Winner - Thembela Madliki from Rhodes University

Awards for the best works by students at the National Arts Festival were decided by a panel, convened by Jacqueline Dommisse, that included Lee-Ann van Rooi and Bertina Johnson.

2017

• Best Original Work: Cult Clit by Rhodes University, directed by Mmatumisang Motsisi

• Best Stage Manager: Manoko Tlhako from Rhodes University

• Best Production: Molora from Tshwane University of Technology’s Drama & Film Department, directed by Kopano Maema

• Merit Award for Original Work: Pop Icheri from The Market Theatre Laboratory, written by Ncumisa Ndimeni and Nosipho Buthelezi

• Best Marketing and Publicity for a Student Theatre Production: Not awarded in 2017

2019

• Best Writer: The writer of Le Journal from The Market Theatre Laboratory

• Best Director: Noluthando Mpho Sibisi for Salt from Rhodes University

• Best Actors: The cast of Le Journal (Boipelo Mahabane, Khanya Zibaya, Khanyisile Malatsi, Khethukhuthula Jele, Miriam Mayet, Mosehlana Mamaregane, Mpho Khobane, Ndumiso Mazibuko, Sicelo Buthelezi, Wonder Ndlovu, Violet Moeng) from The Market Theatre Laboratory

• Best Ensemble: Phitlho (The Hidden) – Kuena Khama, Ipelegeng Leepile, Hlobile Makukule, Lehloanyane Mohapi, Koketso Motlhabane, Bathabile Ngxingweni, Maboroko Ramusi, Sebenzile Sibiya, and Jaco Van Zyl from AFDA Johannesburg

• Best Overall Student Production: Salt from Rhodes University

Sources

LitNet, 10 July 2012

BIZCOMMUNITY, 3 July 2013

Rhodes University Latest News Archive, 2018 https://www.ru.ac.za/latestnews/archives/2018/award-winningstudentdirectortacklesanotherboldplayatstudenttheatrefest.html

https://nationalartsfestival.prezly.com/national-arts-festival-awards-arts-community-as-festival-closes

https://creativefeel.co.za/2017/07/2017-award-winners-honoured-at-national-arts-festival/

http://news.artsmart.co.za/2019/07/standard-bank-ovation-award-winners.html

media update, 8 July 2013

Grocott's Mail, 15 July 2014

See also Festival and Grahamstown Foundation

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