KAZIMLA MFIKILI

Despite being an English medium school, Selborne College’s dramatic society was among only 12 schools countrywide who were invited to perform an original production, Tweeling at the 2024 the ATKV Reza de Wet-Tienertoneelfees in Bloemfontein during July.
Not only was their performance heralded by adjudicators for its emotional depth and maturity, but the school was praised for its commitment to perform in Afrikaans — a difficult feat for an English-medium school which master-in-charge of drama, Jo Stemmet celebrates.
The festival is a long-standing tradition with the landscape of school drama and offers a platform for young aspiring performers to receive a foretaste of performing on the national arts circuit as well as receive adjudication and direction from seasoned judges and build a network of relationships with performers and arts departments across the country.
Stemmet said that the pupils were dedicated in their attempts to the learn the language and hours of rehearsal coupled with individual practice neutralised the fears they had about performing in a second language.
Stemmet, says that what made the school’s drama society different from other competing acts at the festival was their ability to bring the play to life with emotional resonance.
The cast of 14 pupils performed their one-act play that touches on various struggles teenagers face, chronicling a teenager’s journey through desperate hopelessness towards self-belief.
Ronald Theron, who plays the lead character ‘Elrond’, said it was an emotional experience that forced him to draw on complex feelings of pain, anger, and shame to bring the character and the story, to life.
Throughout the play, Elrond is coming of age while dealing with bullies, abuse and losing a loved one. At the end of the play there are very valuable lessons that everyone can learn.
Theron said: “At the end of the performance, I remember thinking to myself, ‘we did it!’ We managed to move our audience and we managed to bring across such a powerful message.
“Seeing him [Elrond] confront his problems towards the end of the play, taught me to be hopeful and I feel so honoured to have told his story.”
He said: “Not only is it his story, but all of ours. Having courage and hope can really change a person’s life. And Elrond had taught me that.”
Theron said that participating at the festival had been an honour and opportunity.
“Our passion for theatre is what brought us together, and the rest of the cast have become my best friends. Working alongside side them at such a reputable competition really brought me great joy,” Theron said.
