Performing Arts Network of South Africa

Acronym: PANSA.

Origins

In the year 2000 a massive crisis faced theatre in South Africa - among other things, the State Theatre Pretoria was mothballed with more than 450 jobs lost, the Market Theatre retrenched half of its staff, the Windybrow Theatre was about to shut down, PACOFS was facing closure after fraudulent investments of public funds, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra was liquidated and numerous NGOs were facing funding crise. It was in this time that a national movement began, seeking to mobilise and aid theatre workers. The key player in this movement was Mike van Graan, who thus became instrumental in launching the Performing Arts Network of South Africa (PANSA), a national lobby to promote and defend the interests of the performing arts industry and of workers within the industry, in 2001. As the first General Secretary of PANSA, Van Graan was responsible for the initial fundraising, organizational structure and growth of the organization,

Aims

which is a civic national network of individuals, NGOs, service providers and mainstream institutions that are engaged in the practice or support of the performing arts (performing arts in all forms - dance, music, theatre, opera, musical theatre). The national office is in Cape Town, with regional offices in Durban and North West, and active volunteers throughout the country.

PANSA is a national network of individuals, NGO's, service providers and mainstream institutions that are engaged in the practice or support of the performing arts (all forms of dance, music, opera, musical theatre and theatre) in South Africa.

PANSA has currently has formally constituted branches in the KwaZulu Natal, North West and Western Cape provinces, with representatives in the Free State and Gauteng. PANSA is working towards having active branches in each province of South Africa.

Members join at a provincial level and annually elect Provincial Steering Committees (PSC) that generally meet each month to manage the affairs of the organisation within the province. Currently members of the Provincial committees are put forward for election onto the National Steering Committee, at the National AGM.

PANSA projects

PANSA / NLDTF Festival of Reading of New Writing

These are regional events which aim to generate original South African theatre works, to provide a platform for these works to reach the attention of theatre producers, and to work towards full-scale productions of the winning plays. are projects to encourage innovative new scriptwriting. They take place annually in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.

Productions are formally read (not staged) by actors under the guidance of a professional director, with the focus on the script being showcased most effectively, without being overwhelmed by elaborate staging, sets, costumes, lighting, performances and direction.

The festivals have been a success over the years, with most of the winning scripts (and numerous of those not winning as well) going on to full scale productions at a variety of theatres and festivals, both locally and internationally. Winning plays include Salaam Stories by Ashraf Johaardien, Bungi Writing Finals by Finuala Dowling, Church Full of Light by Guy Willoughby, Green Man Flashing and Two to Tango by Mike van Graan, Stone Angel by Kobus Moolman and London Road by Nicholas Spagnoletti (Jury Runner up winner 2007).

The winning scripts in each region - Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban - are re-read in the national final and are up for a Grand Prize of R30 000. A panel of carefully chosen industry leaders are the judges of the competition who critically adjudicate the scripts.

The PANSA Newsletter

An online newsletter sent out to all registered PANSA members.

Sources & more information

http://www.pansa.co.za/

http://www.mikevangraan.co.za/

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