Four Stellenbosch University (SU) drama students have recently been nominated for the Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards Best Student Prize. Abigail Jones, BAHons (Drama and Theatre Studies), Angelique Viaan Filter, BAHons Drama and Theatre, Nichola Viviers, BAHons (Drama and Theatre Studies), and Angelo Bergh, Graduate, each received nominations, which were announced on the Fleur Du Cap Facebook page.
Abigail Jones, an honours student in physical theatre at Stellenbosch University’s drama department, is one of the nominees for a Fleur du Cap award. PHOTO: Nicholas Gleeson
“Sometimes we see somebody only [for] one or two performances, and they just stand out so much that it’s impossible not to nominate them,” said Tracey Saunders, the convenor of the Best Student award Panel. “Generally, it’s for their work that we see over the whole year, and in some instances, the preceding years as well.”
“Just to get your name in the nominee’s list is an achievement in itself […] the Fleur Du Cap’s [awards] themselves get a lot of media exposure. So, your name is going to be spoken about in a lot of different places where people maybe wouldn’t have heard your name before as a young student,” said Saunders.
‘There’s always a story to tell’
Abigail Jones, drama student at Stellenbosch University, credits her parents for encouraging her to pursue her dreams. PHOTO: Nicholas Gleeson
“The biggest thing for me [about studying drama at SU] was the opportunities that we get to create our own work,” said Jones, referring to the impact of SU’s drama department. “Coming here [to SU], for me, as a [person of colour], the biggest thing was displaying my work and my truth. Because obviously you’re not going to come and do something this demanding – physically demanding – just for fun. There’s always a story to tell.”
Jones credited her family for encouraging her to pursue her dreams. “My parents allowed me to realise that [acting] is my passion and I don’t think there are many who can say that,” she said.
“This award […] as a student, is one of the biggest awards you can work towards. So being nominated, for me, that’s my win,” said Bergh, who graduated from SU with a BA (Drama and Theatre Studies) at the end of 2023.
Bergh hopes to inspire others through his performances. “Even if it’s just one person in an audience of thousands of people. For me, I feel like everytime I do a performance I tell some story, and someone somewhere took that to heart,” he said.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 17 March at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town, according to the Fleur du Cap Facebook page.
Nichola Viviers is a student at Stellenbosch University’s drama department. She is seen outside the Adam Small theatre complex. PHOTO: Nicholas Gleeson