An explosion of culture
2003-07-07 10:12
Grahamstown - Grade 12 pupils from all over South Africa will be treated to a cultural explosion at The Standard Bank National Schools Festival in Grahamstown this week.
From July 6 to July 10 the pupils will be treated to South African theatre productions, thought-provoking lectures and expert-led workshops.
Marketing Officer for the South African Schools Festivals Fiona Matier said there would be approximately 900 delegates from 60 schools representing every province in the country taking part this year.
"That is fantastic considering the Guy Butler Theatre can only seat 940 people," said Matier.
She said it was the second year that the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund has made it possible for previously disadvantaged delegates to attend the Festival by subsidising their costs.
"The usual registration fee per delegate is R330, which provides delegates a jam-packed week of professional theatre, live music, workshops, lectures and exhibitions," she said.
"The township schools coming, have spent months fundraising for this festival experience, and we are happy to subsidise the costs of those groups who really want to be here..."
Nosisa Beyile, a teacher from Kulani High School in Cape Town, said Kulani High had managed to raise R6 000 towards attending the festival by "sacrificing their December holidays" dancing for tourists visiting the V & A Waterfront in Cape Town.
"I am so proud of the children. They will be exposed to something completely new and exciting and for this, I am glad," said Beyile.
A feast of exciting performances will be on show at this year's festival.
Madiba Magic; Our Father; Ma's Got the Blues; Amen; Thuthula - Heart of the Labyrinth; At Her Feet; Onnest'bo; Grass Gardens; The Mind Flying; The Well Being and PataPata.
The De Beers English Olympiad Prize-Giving will also take place where the rank order of the top 15 entrants will be revealed.
These 15, having scored best out of the 3 593 entrants who wrote the Olympiad this year, will be treated to a VIP week at the Standard Bank National Schools' Festival, culminating in the prize-giving ceremony.
Here they will discover which of their number (which includes learners from the Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, East London and George areas) have been placed in the top 3, winning a literary tour of the UK. - ECN Cuewire