The 2014 Children’s Theatre Festival ended on a high note on Friday last week (3 October 2014) after a thrilling performance of the last play: The Bremen Town-Musicians received a standing ovation.

The Festival was held at the DUT Courtyard Theatre, Steve Biko Road.
Directed by Dr Pamela Tancsik, Senior Lecturer in the University’s Drama Studies Department, the play was based on the famous Grimm Tale and was adapted for stage by Tancsik and DUT Educational Theatre students.

This year’s festival profiled the work of political activist, author and a renowned story teller, Gcina Mhlophe. The Bremen Town-Musicians was written by Mhlophe.

Because the play targeted pupils from grade one and up, it was interactive and allowed aactors to speak to the audience. The production had catchy songs, beautiful costumes and talented actors (first-year Drama and Performance Studies students).

Bremen Town-Musicians is a story about outcast animals; a donkey, dog, cat and rooster who are old and viewed as useless by their owners. The animals each overhear their masters talking about killing them and plan individual escapes from their homes. First on the road is the donkey which journeys to Bremen to start a musical career. Along the way, the donkey meets the other animals.

While travelling to Bremen, the animals spot robbers breaking into an old cottage. They scare the robbers away and live happily ever after in their newly found home.

-Talent Buthelezi.

Pictured: One of the scenes in this year’s DUT Children’s Theatre Festival 2014.