Realogile shines at Schools Theatre Festival

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Alex secondary schools upped the ante at the Schools Theatre Festival held at the Olive Tree Theatre where Realogile Secondary School emerged victorious again for the second year in a row.

The festival is part of the theatre’s objective of bringing the arts to the people, imprint the performing arts on the youth, encourage the inclusion of drama in schools’ curriculums, and to help demystify theatre as a preserve for the affluent at upmarket venues.

This year’s festival included Liberty College and Marlboro Gardens Secondary School in addition to last year’s five participants – Realogile, Eastbank, Kwa-Bhekilanga, Alex High and Pholosho Secondary schools

The theatre’s Nthabiseng Seale said that unlike last year’s event, this year participants were given more room to express their creativity through less guidance by the facilitators in directing and scriptwriting for plays which were on themes of transgender, inequality, HIV and Aids, access to higher education and living with a disability.

“Their [participants] increased involvement helped sharpen their skills through peer learning, competition and interacting,” Seale said.

“It enabled them within a limited time to understand and experience processes of theatre stage production and offered them insights into various careers options in the sector.

“It provided them with experiential learning in a professional, artistic environment under the mentorship of professionals and preoccupied them positively, and made them stay way from the negative temptation of substance abuse.”

The event, she added, was also the theatre’s strategy to provide non-academically inclined children career options as directors, producers and actors, and to use art to unite the community from a young age, enforce morals, family values and to build a culture of reconciliation.

“It’s unfortunate that such facilities are not provided in townships to unify communities and to build a strong nation,” Seale added.

She said some children who took part in the event might engage in cultural exchange programmes which will expose them to the world, and to more career opportunities and networks. She thanked the schools for their growing interest in the event.

Realogile scooped the award for best overall production and best-written script; Marlboro for best ensemble; and Alex High for best-directed production.

Winner for leading actress was Kgomotso Mafokwane of Realogile; leading actor Tumelo Mtjiu of Realogile; supporting actress was Molebogeng Mathobela, and supporting actor Amogelang Mogabudi, both of Alexandra High; and best cameo role was Wangele Ntuli of Eastbank High School.

Details: Olive Tree Theatre 011 048 6152.