Fourways resident, Molly Piedallu (16), had a momentous achievement at the recent National Eisteddfod awards ceremony held in Roodepoort, walking away not only with a certificate and medal but also the prestigious Overall Top Achiever Award in speech and drama.

Molly entered two self-written pieces for the competition: a comic piece about a Russian woman in therapy, and a dramatic monologue exploring a woman’s struggle with hoarding and loss.

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While the comedy piece brought laughter, her dramatic performance tackled an unexpected and serious topic, leaving audiences both shocked and moved.

“I was in total shock. I came to the award ceremony expecting one award, but I was overwhelmed with joy when my name was called for the overall award,” she said.

The young performer credited her success to the guidance and support of her drama teacher, Jill Avis, and the team at Upstage Concepts. “Jill encouraged me to write my own pieces and made sure I practised over and over until it was the best it could be.”

Molly’s passion for performing shines through in both her comedic and dramatic work.

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“For my comic piece, I love hearing people laugh at something I wrote. And performing my dramatic piece about a topic people don’t usually discuss was exhilarating, it’s unexpected, and really connects with the audience.”

When asked about advice for other learners interested in speech and drama, Molly said, “Always try something once, even if you’re terrified.

It always turns out better than expected; either you find your love for it, or it just makes you more confident.”

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