Back row from left to right: Sekhona Sibiya, Benjamin ‘Benna’ Bezuidenhout, Tyrese Human, Dayne Sampson, Sonwabo Duna, Reeder Vermaak. Front row from left to right: Arnold Ntumvi Nguti, Michael Esterhuyse. “I have to give a lot of credit to the cast members,” Reeder Vermaak, a BEng (Industrial) student and one of three directors. The characters are kind of based on the students’ personalities and they really threw themselves into it, according to Vermaak. PHOTO: Mia van der Merwe
Simonsberg men’s residence at Stellenbosch University (SU) won the prize for the best overall performance at the annual Palesa Theatre Festival. This was according to Victor Mouton, chairperson for SU Student Representative Council’s arts and culture committee’s (KuKo) chairperson. As a result of the win, Simonsberg’s play also secured a slot at this year’s Woordfees, said Mouton.
The festival is open to all SU residences and private student organisations (PSO), said Mouton. Five SU residences and PSO ensembles made it to the finals of Kuko’s Palesa Theatre Festival, which took place on 29 April, stated Mouton.
“This will be the first year that the Palesa-winner will be included on the [main] programme,” according to Brechmari van Wyk, the technical coordinator of Woordfees.
The finalists were Minerva, Nagbreek (Nerina and Dagbreek), Heemstede, Simonsberg and Venustia, said Mouton.
“I am very happy to have Sekhona [Sibiya, co-director] to help bring my silly ideas to life,” said Reeder Vermaak, a co-director of the winning production at this year’s Palesa Theatre Festival. PHOTO: Mia van der Merwe
Original productions
“Each cast had original scripts and ideas that they wrote themselves,” explained Mouton.
Simonsberg’s production, The Session, tackles the conversations and scenarios playing out between Simonsberg mentors and first years during Welcoming Week, explained Sekhona Sibiya, one of the three directors, who is currently studying his second year BA in drama and theatre studies.
The Session won several additional prizes, including best audio and visual, best ensemble and best comedy, said Mouton.
“I feel very undeserving, but I put hard work in and I’m glad [because] it paid off,” said Dayne Sampson, a second year social work student who won first place for best supporting actor in The Session. “I am truly humbled,” he said.
“We went through about six cast members that came and went [and] the play was put together in about two weeks… I am utterly shocked and in disbelief,” said Reeder Vermaak, another director of the play, and a third year BEng student in industrial engineering. Vermaak also won best director, said Mouton.
“The Session has shown the judges what is possible in a confined and productive scenery… They have shown what the Palesa Festival is for, and how it has been brought to life and kept alive,” said Rewaldo Carolus, one of the three judges for the festival and 2021 chairperson of KuKo.
Carolus, a Maties alumni, judged alongside Kara van der Merwe, an SU BAHons Journalism student* and Zizipho Nkumbi, an SU first year LLB postgraduate student, on the night of the final performances, explained Carolus.
From left to right, Dayne Sampson, Sonwabo Duna, Reeder Vermaak. “I knew we were going to win something, but I thought we would only win best comedy,” said Dayne Sampson, a B(Social Work) student who won first place for best supporting actor in the Simonsberg production. PHOTO: Mia van der Merwe
*Kara van der Merwe, as a student of the BAHons Journalism class, is also an editorial team member of SMF News.