Friday 20th March was a busy day for both the Proactive groups and the UNIMA SA team. Besides technical rehearsals of 45 minutes each, the groups also had to have time with Janni Younge for manipulation advice. The first group, due to start at 8 am, arrived 15 minutes early and had ample time to set the state, change into costumes and do warm-ups. The first signs that the day may not go quite as planned appeared when, by 8.15am there were still no signs of the technicians. Other problems were starting to rear their heads, and my stress levels were on the rise.
The program was due to start at 5pm,but with one hour to go and 4 groups waiting for their technical rehearsal, we had no choice but to abandon the original plan.
Our goal now was to make sure that all the groups got the correct lighting for their productions. We pushed through and once the first group was on stage a little after 5.30pm, I breathed a sigh of relief, sat back and enjoyed the visual feast.
The groups really brought it on! The puppets were well done and clothed, and for the most part, well manipulated. All the shows were very well structured, everyone kept to their 15 minute time limit and the group change overs went smoothly. The theatre was half filled with family members and friends of the participants and also some UNIMA members.(Thank You!)
After a great presentation, the winners were announced, and the participants of the 2008 Active program were presented with their certificates.
We managed to finish by 10.15pm and by 10.30 pm everyone was in the bus or taxi ready to be taken home after a hard days work.
Our judges were Mandla Mbothwe, lecturer from UCT and theatre director; Jacqueline Van Meygaarden,award winning film director and past Active Puppets manager; Janni Younge, our own CEO of UNIMA SA and Out the Box Festival director; Jaqueline Dommisse, veteran theatre director and chairperson for UNIMA SA board; Yvette Hardie, leading lady for Assitej SA (The Association of Theatre for Children and Young People); and last but not least,Rouxnet Brown award winning director and accomplished actor.
The winners of the Proactive Competition 2009 are: Masiphathisane for Ubhuti! and Phakamani Youth Project for The Girl and The Head.
We would like to say thank you to the following collaborators for helping us in making the day a success. Africalia Belgium, HCI Foundation, Woolworths Gardens, Baxter Theatre, Ikhwezi Festival, and Assitej SA. A warm thank you to our judges for their wonderful job, and finally, a big thanks to all the participants, as well as the UNIMA SA Team.
With Love, Respect and Gratitude
Cindy Mkaza
Active Puppets Manager
Source: UNIMA South Africa
