May 9, 2003
By Mandisi Majavu
THE main goal for the South African National Community Theatre Association (Sancta) this year is to take the theatre "to the people". Regional festivals in the home areas of participating troupes are giving them better exposure, an audience and the opportunity to raise funds for their groups.
The festival this year has been specifically been designed as a "back to basics" event - with less emphasis on sets and technical prowess and more concentration on drawing out the creativity, talents, innovation, expertise and potential of playwrights and actors, says Noel McDonald, the executive director of Sancta.
The 23rd annual event started a month ago in Roodepoort and ends in June, at Windybrow, the centre for the arts in Hillbrow. It is being run on two platforms: three regional festivals and a main festival.
In Roodepoort, four different plays were performed - three local productions, and an English play, The Birdcage. All four managed to make it to the finals, which will be held at Windybrow Centre for the Arts from 9 to 21 June.
The second regional festivals were held at the Benoni Small Town Hall on 3 May. The third and final regional festivals will be held in the Vaal Triangle, at Vereeniging Civic Theatre, from 12 to 17 May.
The plays performed at the festivals are judged by professional artists and playwrights, the criterion being the quality of work, says McDonald. For the finals, there are six categories for participants to compete for, namely: best production, best director, best actor, best actress, best new South African play and best ensemble work.
For festival information and enquiries, McDonald can be contacted at (011) 475 3584 or at 083 309 4315 or visit the Sancta website: www.sancta.org.za
