![The finalists of the DCAS Drama Festival were ecstatic after their selection The finalists of the DCAS Drama Festival were ecstatic after their selection](https://www.westerncape.gov.za/sites/www.westerncape.gov.za/files/the_finalists_were_ecstatic_after_their_selection.jpg)
The community of Zwelethemba in Worcester was astonished by talent from the various drama groups taking part in the DCAS Drama Festival. Staged on 26 August 2017, the event was organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) in partnership with Breede Valley Tourism, Cape Winelands Municipality, the Baxter Theatre and the Zabalaza Festival.
Seven drama groups from various areas took part in the first adjudication leg of the festival, in the hope of becoming one of the finalists. Moss Arts Production and Mbekweni Nkwenkwezi from Mbekweni Paarl, Mahibuye Drama Group, Mayenzeke Art Production and Our Hope from Zwelethemba made it through as finalists with their emotionally charged performances. Previous winners, African Calling performed their brand new production Kleinplaas. The performances were adjudicated by Suidooster Soapie star Abduraghman Adams and award winning artists, Lauren Hannie and Khayelethu Anthony, both previous winners of the Zabalaza Festival.
Councillor Julian Kritzinger, Mayoral Committee Member for Local Economic Development, Tourism, Arts and Culture at the Breede Valley Municipality, attended the festival and encouraged the young performers to believe in their dreams of performing on bigger stages. “All of you here today will be taking the audience on a journey with you”, he said. He stressed the value of the growth of the young artists as inspiring and recommended that more youth partake in this great programme.
DCAS Deputy Director Liezl Jansen expressed her excitement at the talent of the young performers and wished them luck. “Remember this is not a competition, but an opportunity to hone your craft. Performers like you are the mouthpieces for our stories,” she said.
Celebrity adjudicator Abduraghman Adams echoed the opportunities that this programme has provided to local talent and thanked DCAS for allowing him to be part of it to shape the minds and talents of aspiring artists.
The next leg of the Cape Winelands Drama festival is scheduled at the Franschhoek Town Hall on 16 September 2017.
DCAS and its partners aim to develop the arts through these festivals and expose the young talent in communities to exciting opportunities BETTER TOGETHER.
Dr Tania Colyn
Head of Communication Service
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9877 / 076 093 4913
E-mail: Tania.Colyn@westerncape.gov.za