DUT Children’s Theatre Festival
THE third annual DUT Children’s Theatre Festival which takes place at the Courtyard Theatre from Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 September will profile renowned children’s theatre writer extraordinaire, and theatre doyen, Prof Pieter Scholtz.
The festival, founded by Prof Lutge, profiles a Durban writer each year. Presented by the DUT Department of Drama and Performance Studies, this year’s festival features five original productions for young audiences. The plays are aimed at primary schools (Grade 3 to 7) and will be performed by first-year Drama Studies students.
Among the plays being performed are: Samantha Seal (19 September: 10am and 12pm) which will be directed by Marcia Peschke. Samantha Seal decides to appeal to the World Court against the culling of seals.
The La-Di-Da Hadeda (20 September: 10am and 12pm is directed by Nellie Ngcongo and concerns the meaning of Christmas for a young African herd-boy, centred on the character of Da, a black Ibis.
Where the Rainbow Ends (21 September: 10am and 12pm) is directed by Deb Lutge and is about a group of desperate and weird scarecrows pursued by a malevolent villain, Terminator Crow.
Prof Pieter Scholtz is emeritus professor of Drama at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Durban where he headed the drama department for more than 20 years. He founded and ran the KwaSuka Theatre where regular productions for young audiences were presented. He has written and published many plays in a series entitled Plays for Young Africa, two of which received the Amstel Playwright of the Year award in 1979 and 1980.
The festival takes place at the DUT Drama Department, Courtyard Theatre, Steve Biko Road (old Mansfield Road). Secure parking will be available at gate 5. Ticket cost R20 per person, block booking R10 per person (group of 10).
Contact Pamela Tancsik (Cell: 0824031707) or call the Departmental Secretary, Lebohang Sibisi on 031 373 2194 or lebohangs@dut.ac.za.
