Creative arts and visual arts teacher Sheraad Jacobs and the learners at Hoërskool Vorentoe are busy rehearsing for their annual play which will take place on 13 September.
The play is called 16 in 10 minutes or less and was written by Bradley Hayward. It is based on 15 teenagers who create an idea of what it is like to be sixteen. The play deals with issues such as dysfunctional families, parents going through divorce, bullying, friendships, and other issues teenagers experience, but in a comedy format.
Jacobs said, “It’s creating humour with all these serious matters, I as the director felt like I wanted to touch base on some serious topics but taking a different approach on things. I usually write the plays so this was my first year just directing, I wanted to take on something that would be relevant to the teenagers, but to deal with it through laughter.”
Every year, Grade 8 to 11 learners audition to participate in the school’s annual play and the funds raised on the night go towards next year’s play, “Once we get over one play, we already start planning for the next one. I take the arts very seriously and try to instill that in the learners as well so that they can realise this is something they can also do and have passion for.
He added, “It was important to bring life into the plays again, firstly for the learners who are participating it helps build confidence, creative skills and the learners are better developed for the future.”
“We bring on the learners for different things in terms of the play, not just performers. The learners create our set design for the play and we encourage them to be involved in every aspect. I’m also taking this opportunity to train certain learners to stage-manage, call lights and call sound.”
The learners start rehearsing about seven months before and the school tries to educate the learners about various content through these plays. “Learners are always enthusiastic about it and really do well and we would like to share this with the community,” Jacobs concluded.
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