Ishashalazi Theatre Awards shine spotlight on raw talent
The Ishashalazi Theatre Awards, which have grown in recent years to become an important feature in the calendar of theatre in the province, are back in the scene shining the spotlight on developing talent. This year’s awards will be held in Pretoria on Friday, 7 March 2014 at the State Theatre - in partnership with the City of Tshwane.
Following a fruitful Ishashalazi Theatre Festival programme that featured 20 productions - showcased throughout the province during the month of December 2013, the awards will now reward outstanding talent identified during the showcases as judged by experts in the industry.
The Ishashalazi Theatre Programme is aimed at developing, supporting and growing theatre, targeting especially townships as well as other areas of Gauteng.
The 20 productions partaking this year were selected during a gruesome audition process that is used annually to pick participants for the Ishashalazi Festival; selected theatre groups also received workshops on methods of improving their products.
Remarkable participants of the programme will be awarded with accolades and prize monies in different categories including Best Production, Best supporting Actor - Male and female, Best actor - Male and female, Best Set Design and best Director, Best woman script writer among others.
Gauteng Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC, Lebogang Maile, continues to rally behind the theatre programme as an important pillar for the development and support of emerging performing arts in the province.
Maile said: “it has been encouraging to see that young people are taking advantage of programmes such as the Ishashalazi Theatre initiative. It is through such programmes that we will be able to assist talented individuals to take steps towards realizing their dreams and elevate their craft to the next level. We hope to help build a path for these artists to one day perform at the highest level locally and internationally”.
Roadshows
Various celebrities have been enlisted to lead roadshows to several schools within Tshwane as part of promoting theatre and recruiting more talent into the industry. The celebrities include Patrick Shai; Seputla Sebogodi; Nomsa Buthelezi (Mmamnisi on Sibaya); Kere Nyawo (Popeye on Zone 14); Obed Baloyi (Tsutsuma on Ga re Dumele) among others.
For media inquiries:
Nomazwe Ntlokwana
Cell: 083 507 8068
Tel: 011 355 2578
Email: nomazwen@gpg.gov.za
