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.

History

Previous productions

1993: Leaving Out Profanity (Rhodes University)

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

The Market Theatre Lab received kudos for the poster design and overall marketing campaign of their production of Milk and Honey
Most Promising Student Director: Mira Sydow (UCT)
Most Promising Student Writer: Mathew Baldwin, Wynne Bredenkamp and Taryn Wyngaardt (UCT)
Best Student Theatre Production, and the floating Cape Triangular Trophy, for their production titled Behind Every Yawn There is a Silent Shout (UCT).
Merit Awards: 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.

A panel of advisors comprising Gez Casey, Smal Ndaba, Christina Kennedy and Peter Terry recognised enormous potential in the next generation of professionals.

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
Most Promising Director: Mariska Denysschen for Medea (Tshwane University of Technology)
Most Promising Writers: Katya Mendelson, Ameera Conrad, Thando Mangcu for Don’t Shoot the Harbinger (University of Cape Town)
Special Merit Certificates were given to Garth Tavares for his direction of Edges (Waterfront Theatre College), and to Frankie van Straten for her design of Void (Rhodes University).

A panel of advisors comprising Jaqueline Dommisse, Peter Terry, Warona Seane and Gez Casey of Live Theatre : UK adjudicated the 17 student productions presented at the National Arts Festival this year.

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

2018

Best Ensemble: The cast of Seeing Red from Rhodes University.

Best Director: Kashifa Sithole for Devil At A Dead End from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Best Production: Marose from The Market Theatre Laboratory.

Special mention was also made of the design of Lebitso, a work created by students from AFDA Johannesburg and Østfold University College/Norwegian Theatre Academy. These students collaborated to create a visually rich physical theatre work.

The Student Festival’s advisory panel this year was Motlatji Ditodi and Greg Homann, with additional input from Tracey Saunders and Nobesuthu Rayi.