The festival formerly known as ‘Toneelfees’ recently made its in-person return as the Palesa theatre festival, signifying a change in the direction of the project and a new era for KuKo, the Student Representative Council’s (SRC) arts and culture committee at Stellenbosch University (SU).
This is according to Gerrard Damons, chairperson of KuKo.
The play, It wasn’t me I swear, was performed by Metanoia and Olympus at the Palesa theatre festival finals on 7 May at the Drostdy Theatre. VIDEO: Tamara Wicomb
The Palesa festival is an amateur theatre festival for SU students “who write and direct original works varying in genre from absurdism to comedy to musicals”, explained Damons. The festival started on 2 May and concluded on 7 May, he stated.
‘An ever-changing culture’
While the festival was previously known as ‘Toneelfees’, a decision was made to change the name “due to the ever-changing culture of the university, campus and community space”, said Damons via email correspondence with MatieMedia. “The KuKo executive came to a conclusion to rename the project as well as change the direction of the project to focus more on relatability towards current students and their issues to be portrayed in theatre,” said Damons.
The Palesa theatre festival was organised by the KuKo executive. Pictured above from left to right are members of the executive: Jared Loggenberg (vice chairperson), Jess Meissner (Stellenbosch University acapella project manager), Gabriella Mashiki ( Molassesêr and debating project manager), Britney Pick (Tygerberg Campus representative and glitter ball project manager), Yolanda Sibambo (social media and marketing manager), Vanessa Baloyi (social media and marketing manager), Layla Salie (secretary general), Gerrard Damons (chairperson) and Moniq Gouws (Palesa festival and project manager). PHOTO: Supplied/Josiah Aiyer
‘Palesa’ means ‘blooming’ or ‘flowering’ and the rationale for this renaming was to express the ever-rethinking and practice of rebirth that comes with the art of theatre, explained Damons. It is sharing painful, happy and defiant experiences through the form of art, he stated.
This year, the theme for the festival was “student life experience in a versatile town”, said Damons.
“This change signifies a new era for KuKo within the university and greater Stellenbosch community. KuKo has grown a lot in the past couple of years and it is really starting to resemble the multicultural institution SU is becoming,” said Viwe Kobokana, SU SRC chairperson, via email correspondence with MatieMedia.
This year’s Palesa theatre festival marked the first time that a musical was entered into the festival, said Gerrard Damons, chairperson of KuKo, Stellenbosch University’s Student Representative Council’s arts and culture committee. Huis Visser and Nemesia collaborated for the festival, enacting a musical called Roof of Stars. VIDEO: Tamara Wicomb
Best overall performance
At the finals, Simonsberg and Pieke won the majority of the awards, including the award for best overall performance, for their play, The HK Office.
“The team that was working this year just maintained the standard of what it should be,” said Willem Horn, co-director of the play.
“It was really fun being a non-student and seeing life being breathed back into the theatre,” said Emma Vinheim, co-director of The HK Office. “The boys deserved the win,” she stated.
Simonsberg and Pieke won the majority of the awards at this year’s Palesa theatre festival, walking away with six out of the ten available awards. They won the awards for best overall performance, second best supporting role, best ensemble, first best supporting role, best director and best comedy. PHOTO: Tamara Wicomb