DCAS showcases talent
RHEENENDAL - On Saturday 16 September, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) Adjudication Showcase took place inthe Rheenendal Primary School hall, where youth from various regions display their developed scripts to professional drama adjudicators.
The annual event aims to provide talented youngsters from the Garden Route, Overberg and Winelands with the opportunity to perform on professional platforms.
It attracted a diverse range of participants and performers from Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and as far as Swellendam. The showcase constituted the third and fourth leg of the programme. The ages of the participants ranged from 15 years old to a few adults who stepped in due to casting challenges.
Several new productions made their debut with the standout performance coming from the Swellendam Shack Theatre, where school children presented a compelling production that left a lasting impression with the adjudicators.
The event was open to the entire community and, despite a smaller audience due to unfavourable weather conditions, attendees were thoroughly
entertained during the three-hour showcase. Productions were unique and diverse, covering themes such as gender-based violence, neglect and even an interpretative piece featuring Mother Nature and her animals with a voice on stage. An unexpected bonus was an impromptu show by local bass musician Ronaldo Notably. The presence of awardwinning director from the Baxter Theatre Mdu Kweyama, who provided valuable feedback to the participants, added prestige to the occasion.
The DCAS performance event aligns with the annual DCAS drama initiative, supported by Knysna Municipality.
The objective is to identify exceptional talent and provide further development opportunities in acting, writing, and directing. This development aims to pave youths’ way towards performing at the highly anticipated DCAS Drama Grand Finale in February 2024.
Attendees were thoroughly entertained during the three-hour showcase.