USAT

USAT is the acronym for an amateur theatre society for students at the University of Stellenbosch.

The society

Called the Universiteit Stellenbosch Amateurteater in Afrikaans and University of Stellenbosch Amateur Theatre in English.

Managed by a the USAT Komitee, a student committee.

The USAT Drama Festival

One of the prime activities of the society is the annual USAT Dramafees (USAT Drama Festival, where competing residences put on plays, with the male and female residences teaming up and combining their forces. The performances are of both existing plays and of original plays written by students.

A number of awards were on offer in the festivals, each festival's offerings judged by a panel of lecturers:

For instance, the 1978 festival programme lists André P. Brink, Tim Huisamen, Herman Pretorius and Juanita Swanepoel had as judges for the following 14 trophies awarded the previous year (1977):

The Steytlerbeker ("Steytler Cup"): Best performance in a very small role. (Winner: Louwtjie Louw)

The Barclays-beker ("Barclays Cup"): Commendable performance in a female role (Winner: Elmari van Niekerk).

The Barclays-beker ("Barclays Cup"): Commendable performance in a male role (Dirk Winterbach).

The Akkertrofee ("Acorn Trophy") Best performance in a female role (Winners: Coretha le Roux and Ena Naude).

The Enricotrofee ("Enrico Trophy") Best performance in a male role (Winners: Murray Bridgman and Van Rooyen Terblanche).

The Edrichstrofee ("Edrichs Trophy") Best acting performance.

The Johan Brink-trofee ("Johan Brink Trophy") commendable student director.

The UUB-trofee ("UUB Trophy") best student director.

The Steytlerbeker ("Steytler Cup"): Originality.

The USAT-trofee ("USAT Trophy"): Commendable production.

The Barclays-trofee ("Barclays Trophy"): Best production.

The Frenchy Franzen-trofee ("Frenchy Franzen Trophy"): Stage management.