DUT’s Higher Certificate in Performing Arts Technology brought students, professional artists and interdisciplinary learning together through a nine-day mini-festival focused on creative practice, sustainable design and industry engagement.
For nine days in October, the Courtyard Theatre at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) became a space where classroom learning met professional practice. Students worked alongside established artists and technical practitioners, explored different forms of performance and presented their own creative work as part of Backstage in Action 2026.
Presented by the Department of Drama and Production Studies from 8 to 16 October 2026, the mini-festival was the culmination of an integrated project-based learning (PBL) initiative embedded in the Higher Certificate in Performing Arts Technology.
Convened and curated by Dr Clare Craighead, the programme connected students with the practical, technical and collaborative demands of the creative industries. An important enabler of this Higher Certificate and industry interface was project-based learning and design thinking (PBL/DT) funding from DUT’s Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT). Following an application submitted by Craighead in February 2026, the funding supported elements of the programme, enabling professional artists and specialist practitioners to contribute directly to students’ learning.
The initiative was built around the principle that students develop practical theatre skills by actively participating in the production process. Through authentic creative and technical assignments, they applied their knowledge of stage management, design, lighting, sound, technical production, communication and event coordination.
The King of Broken Things starring Cara Roberts (Photograph by Shelley Kjonstad)
The festival opened on 8 October with Theatresmiths’ internationally acclaimed production, The King of Broken Things. Written and directed by Michael Taylor-Broderick, performed by Cara Roberts and featuring set construction by Bryan Hiles, the production used discarded objects to explore loss, repair, resilience and hope.
The production has received several accolades, including a Gold Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival, a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best Theatre Production for Children and Young People, and international recognition at Bulgaria’s Golden Dolphin International Puppet Festival. Its use of materials and imaginative visual storytelling offered students an opportunity to consider how design, construction and technical choices contribute to a theatrical production.
These ideas were developed further through a seven-week design thinking and puppet-making project. Working from selected African folktales, Higher Certificate in Performing Arts Technology students designed and constructed puppets using recycled and refurbished materials. The process required them to consider character development, storytelling, material selection and the practical demands of bringing their creations to life.
Peter Court of Creative Madness provided industry guidance and mentorship throughout the project, supporting students during the design and construction stages. Local actor Mpilo ‘Straw’ Ndimande subsequently tested the completed puppets, giving students an opportunity to assess their creations through the practical demands of manipulation and performance.
The students also planned and presented a foyer exhibition of their recycled puppets as part of the festival. The exhibition allowed audiences to engage with their work while showcasing the craftsmanship, creativity and design thinking involved in transforming discarded materials into theatrical objects.
Professional lighting and sound practitioners Lisa Goldstone and Trevor Kubeka also worked alongside students, strengthening their understanding of technical production and professional working practices. Together with Theatresmiths and Creative Madness, their involvement brought industry experience directly into the learning environment.
On 9 October, the programme featured contemporary African dance through FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY’s History is a Home Address, a choreopoem created collaboratively by choreographer Dr Lliane Loots and the company’s dancers. Drawing inspiration from the poetry of renowned South African poet and cultural activist Dr Mongane Wally Serote, the production explored memory, protest, identity, belonging and the continuing influence of history on the body.
The performance exposed students to the technical and collaborative demands of contemporary dance, demonstrating how lighting, sound, stage space and production coordination contribute to the communication of complex artistic ideas.
The festival also extended into arts journalism and critical reflection. Reviews of The King of Broken Things by Advanced Diploma student Zama Sokhela, and of History is a Home Address and Dubious Gurus by DUT graduate Akhona Jr Mhlungu, were published on the arts platform artSMart. This provided another connection between the programme and professional creative practice, extending students’ engagement with the performing arts beyond the stage.
On 13 October, Backstage in Action expanded beyond the theatre through a Wellness Activation presented jointly by the Department of Drama and Production Studies and the Department of Sport Studies. The event brought together project-based learning outputs from two Higher Certificate cohorts, highlighting how students in different disciplines could apply similar design principles to different purposes.
Sport Studies students had been challenged to design and construct equipment from recycled materials as part of their coursework assessment. While Performing Arts Technology students repurposed materials to create puppets inspired by African folktales, their Sport Studies counterparts transformed reclaimed objects into functional equipment for physical activity and recreation.
Both projects encouraged resourcefulness, environmental responsibility and practical problem-solving, requiring students to consider how their designs could be used beyond the construction process.
During the Wellness Activation, Drama students presented an educational performance about healthy eating and physical activity through theatre, music and dance. Sport Studies students demonstrated their self-made equipment and invited fellow students to participate.
The event created an interactive learning environment in which students could experience the practical value of one another’s work. It also reinforced the connection between sustainable design, creative expression and physical wellbeing, complementing the puppet exhibition in the Courtyard Theatre foyer.
In both projects, students moved beyond designing and making objects to testing their usefulness in practice. The puppets were handled by a professional performer, while the exercise equipment was demonstrated and used by fellow students. These experiences allowed students to evaluate their work in real situations and consider how their ideas translated into practice.
The mini-festival concluded on 16 October with Dubious Gurus, an inventive fusion of spoken word, jazz and hip-hop featuring Durban wordsmith Iain ‘Ewok’ Robinson, accompanied by Logan Byrne on upright bass, Daniel Sheldon on horn and percussion, and Anton Cawthorn-Blazeby on violin. The closing performance broadened students’ exposure to multidisciplinary performance and the technical requirements of producing live music.
Backstage in Action 2026 brought together professional performances, industry mentorship, student-led exhibitions and interdisciplinary collaboration. Through these activities, students gained opportunities to create, test, exhibit and coordinate work for audiences while engaging with the practical realities of the creative industries.
The initiative reflects DUT’s commitment to experiential learning, industry partnerships and the development of graduates equipped to contribute creatively and responsibly to their professions and communities.
Pictured: Dubious Gurus close Backstage in Action 2026 at Courtyard Theatre with their Jazzy flavoured Spoken Word poetry.
Photographer: Val Adamson
Dr Clare Craighead
