St Benedict’s sweeps awards at 2025 FEDA Festival
The Other Side of the House won various awards at South Africa’s high school theatre festival. Written and directed by learner Omolemo Pesha, the play is a psychological thriller that explores themes of grief, isolation, and a mind on the brink.
St Benedict’s College has cemented its position as a theatrical powerhouse by winning the best production award at the Festival of Excellence in Dramatic Arts (FEDA) for its production of The Other Side of the House, along with five additional major honours in South Africa’s most prestigious high school theatre competition.
Written and directed by learner Omolemo Pesha, The Other Side of the House is a psychological thriller that explores themes of grief, isolation, and a mind on the brink, set to the haunting soundtrack of Nina Simone.
This powerful production dominated the awards ceremony, securing best actor (Ditiro Simelane), best supporting actor (Sikolakhe Manaswe), best director (Omolemo Pesha), best special effects (Michael van Esch and Soneesh Govender), best stage crew (Soneesh Govender – stage manager, Bokang Mohau, Ikechukwu Ejike, Warona Moloantoa, Tumelo Maboya, Lutho Manjingolo, Siyabonga Sibeko and Nathan Chakwamba) and the ultimate prize of best production of FEDA 2025.
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The production was selected from an elite field of five finalists out of 66 competing productions from around 50 schools nationwide, alongside theatre giants St John’s College and St Stithians.
FEDA, founded in 2004 and held annually at the Johannesburg Theatre, is widely regarded as the crown jewel of South African high school theatre festivals.
The competition provides a professional platform for learners to showcase original scripts and published works, adjudicated by respected theatre professionals who serve as gatekeepers to the industry’s future stars.
St Benedict’s College head of drama, Michelle Douglas, said, “The atmosphere on finals night was electric.
“In a jam-packed theatre brimming with excitement, five of the country’s most talented school theatre ensembles faced off in what can be described as a celebration of youth artistry at its highest level. It is an evening we will never forget.”
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“This historic achievement represents more than theatrical excellence; it showcases the extraordinary creative vision and artistic maturity of our learners.
“Our boys have proven that culture and the arts are as fundamental to our identity as academic achievement and sporting prowess,” she added.
The triumph follows an equally impressive showing by the school’s second FEDA entry, Tharo, written and directed by matriculant Zach Scullard.
Theatre professionals Carol Fields and Jacques da Silva praised Tharo as ‘intelligent, sophisticated, and superbly rehearsed theatre’, with the production earning a nomination for best set design and widespread acclaim for its technical excellence and professional-level stage management.
The boys also received praise for their masterful stage management, elegant transitions, and the polished unity of a team working at a professional level.
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“To have two productions of this calibre emerge from our school in a year demonstrates the depth of creative talent within our community.
“These young men have raised the bar for school theatre and shown what can be achieved when students are empowered to tell their stories with authenticity and vision,” said Douglas.
The last time St Benedict’s won the Drama festival was in 2007 at Repertory Amateur Players Society for a production called Reverse Inebriation.
