IT’S almost time again for the PnA Ultimate Performer, the competition that gives aspiring performers a chance to shine.
This year the GO! & Express and big sister newspaper Daily Dispatch are on board as the media sponsors of this exciting talent search.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for East Londoners who are growing and learning as performers and passionate about the performing arts to come together on the Guild Stage for one night only,” spokeswoman Anne McLaren said.
She said the unique element of the event was that it encouraged collaboration between the art forms – music, drama and dance – and different schools to be part of something fun, vibrant and entertaining together, while providing an excellent platform to build new friendships and showcase local talent.
The competition has seen tremendous growth since it was established six years ago, with the number of schools, studios, sponsors and audience members increasing every year, McLaren said.
“We foresee 2017 to be no different.
“It has grown from about 80 items performed by 50 competitors in its first year to more than 200 individuals partaking in 140 items last year,” McLaren said.
Event organisers, Performance Platform strives to give performing artists a platform on which to develop confidence, network with other artists and showcase their talents and abilities. Visit:www.performanceplatform.co.za/about-us to find out more.
“In aiming to achieve these objectives, we have various strategies.
“One of these strategies is to host the Ultimate Performer with the grand finale event to be held on the professional Guild Theatre stage with professional lighting, sound and an overall ‘showcase’ feel,” McLaren said.
“An opportunity to perform on a professional platform of this kind is not always accessible to everyone.”
Entries are open and can be completed online, or on any mobile device at www.performanceplatform.co.za
Registration for entering (if not completed online) and the handing in of music, collection of T-shirts and promotional vouchers takes place on Friday March 10 at the PnA premises in Old Transkei Road, Nahoon, from 2 to 5pm. The preliminary competition, where performers showcase their various items in front of a panel of judges from the East London Performing Arts community – takes place on March 11 and 12 at Vincent Park.
Vincent Park has been host to the preliminary round for a number of years and provides an exciting passer-by “talent off the street” element, where shoppers can enter on the day and be part of the excitement.
Items with the highest scores from the judges are then selected to take part in a semi-final for their age group, which takes place on March 25 at the Guild Theatre.
The “Best of the Best” from this round are then required to perform at the final, which by then has become a relatively smooth variety theatre show – providing not only a thrilling evening for audiences, but more importantly, a real-life theatre event for performers, providing much-desired exposure and experience.
This takes place on Sunday March 26 at the Guild Theatre in a Petit and Junior Final, followed by a Senior and Open Final in the evening.
