High school learners have the chance to express their creativity on a national level through a brand-new drama competition in which participants will be exposed to various facets of the entertainment industry such as theatre, television, radio and dubbing.
The Proscenium Drama Competition, an initiative of the Tribuo Fund, aims to promote empowerment in the arts.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic the fund was born to provide financial assistance to people in the entertainment industry. Now Tribuo’s goal is to continue to raise funds and launch projects to serve artists across South Africa as a lasting resource,” explained Dr Leslie van Rooi, a director of the fund.
Tribuo’s mission is to empower performing artists and technical support staff and to help create work for a sustainable future, said Van Rooi.
Karen Meiring, Tribuo’s executive chairman, said an important objective was to invest in the future and survival of the entertainment industry.
Meiring said participation in this competition for learners from Gr. 8 to Gr. 12 would help them make informed career decisions.
Learners or students can enroll themselves, or through their schools or independent drama training institutions.
Organisers at the helm of the competition have more than 30 years of experience in drama training and have successfully hosted similar competitions.
“Mentorship and training play a big role in the competition,” said Herman van der Westhuizen, project leader.
“Participants meet successful professional actors and experienced mentors, and will rub shoulders with like-minded cultural and diverse luminaries in the country.
“During the final rounds in Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre, friendships will be forged, and learners will become part of new creative networks that span the entire creative networks of the country.”
At the end of February 2024 the qualifying rounds commence in various centers in all nine provinces, after which the final will take place in Cape Town at Artscape from 9 to 11 May. Winners will be announced on 11 May.
Certificates, medals, and cash prizes are up for grabs, and RSG and kykNET also choose actors from the finalists to take part in a radio drama and make a guest appearance in a TV soap. Overklank studios will invite a promising finalist to participate in a dubbing project.
Entries opened on 1 September and are done online, with entry fees to the amount to R200 per entry.
The closing date is 26 January 2024.
Enter on proscenium.pro, and send any enquiries via email to info@proscenium.
