The New Director’s Festival, presented by the entire class of third-year Drama and Production Studies students at DUT is now in full swing.
Currently in its first phase (for 2014), the Festival takes place in two parts each year, usually at the Courtyard Theatre. The first phase is however being currently held at the Cane Growers Hall, ML Sultan Campus, with the Drama and Production Studies Department’s building being under renovation which is expected to be completed this month (April).
The first phase of the directing projects, which started on Monday this week (07 April 2014) will run on weekdays until Wednesday 16 April 2014, with the second phase set to start on Monday 14 July 2014, ending on Friday 25 July 2014 (excluding Saturday and Sunday).
Each evening the first work is mounted at 18h00, followed by a second presentation at 19h00, except for Wednesday (16 April 2014) when commencement is at 17h00, followed by another production at 18h00 and the final show at 19h00.
“This quick turnaround necessitates a general lighting rig, sets that work to a budget of R150 and facilitate a fast move in time, as well as frenetically shared rehearsal space and in many cases shared casts,” said Professor Deborah Lutge, Head of the Drama and Production Studies Department.
She said directors are expected to research the milieu of the work, understand the playwright’s intention, the themes and characters, analyse the subtext and conceptual angles or possibilities, find an appropriate staging, movement and picturisation, lead their cast by example and energy to establish a plausible stage presence and engage the audience through the theatrical appeal of the overall impression. This is no mean feat, she said.
The directing experience is a first for each of the student directors. Students select a play that must run between 25 and 50 mins, and after approval, set a rehearsal schedule. Directing Advisors in the form of staff assist and guide student results but the final projects bare the imprint of the student directors themselves.
“This is an exhausting process in which the student makes decisions on all aspects of the show from casting to costuming, from sets to stage dressing and properties, from rehearsal schedules to technical rehearsal where they add lighting to final dress and finally performance dates. Student actors learn their craft by teaching others. They are expected to plan well, communicate effectively and evolve an entrepreneurial process. The learning uncovered during this course of action is considerable. I’m always delighted by the gusto with which these projects are embraced, the development of the artists that is evident by the end of the experience, and the creativity and aplomb with which the Drama Studies students carry out this assignment,” said Prof Lutge.
Admission is free. Parking is available at the Curries Fountain Stadium.
– Sinegugu Ndlovu
Pictured: A scene from The Nurse/Umongikazi
New Director’s Festival First Phase Schedule
| Director | Play | Advisor | Date | Time |
| Lihle Nene | The Seed (Amy Jephta) | Prof. Debbie Lutge | 07-April-2014 (Mon) | 18h00 – 19h00 |
| Lungani Mabaso | Dark Voices Ring (Zakes Mda) | Marcia Peschke | 07-April-2014 (Mon) | 19h00 – 20h00 |
| Sweetness Ngobese | Asinamali (Mbongeni Ngema) | Dr. Pamela Tancsik | 08-April-2014 (Tues) | 18h00 – 19h00 |
| Zonke Mchunu | Welcome to Rockville (Paul Grootboom) | Prof. Debbie Lutge | 08-April-2014 (Tues) | 19h00 – 20h00 |
| Bridget Gcaba | For Colored Girls (Ntozake Shange) | Marcia Peschke | 09-April-2014 (Wed) | 18h00 – 19h00 |
| Dingalethu Maphithela | Lovenet (Asiedu Yirenkyi) | Prof. Debbie Lutge | 09-April-2014 (Wed) | 19h00 – 20h00 |
| Nonjabulo Ngcobo | The Transistor Radio (Ken Saro-Wiwa) | Prof. Debbie Lutge | 10-April-2014 (Thurs) | 18h00 – 19h00 |
| Nolwazi Ngcobo | The Hungry Earth (Maishe Maponya) | Prof. Debbie Lutge | 10-April-2014 (Thurs) | 19h00 – 20h00 |
| Nokuphiwa Adam | Dutch Man (Amiri Baraka) | Prof. Debbie Lutge | 11-April-2014 (Fri) | 18h00 – 19h00 |
| Sbusiso Ngcobo | The Breast- a Play about men ? | Dr. Pamela Tancsik | 11-April-2014 (Fri) | 19h00 – 20h00 |
| Kagisho Tsimakwane | Relativity (Paul Grootboom) | Marcia Peschke | 14 April-2014 (Mon) | 18h00 – 19h00 |
| Ngobile Cele | Boy with Beer (Paul Boakye) | Marcia Peschke | 14-April-2014 (Mon) | 19h00 – 20h00 |
| Pride Ngcobo | The World on a Hill (Alice Childress) | Dr. Pamela Tancsik | 15-April-2014 (Tues) | 18h00 – 19h00 |
| Nokwanda Nhleko | Blue/ Orange (Joe Penhall) | Marcia Peschke | 15-April-2014 (Tues) | 19h00 – 20h00 |
| Andile Khanyile | Looking into the Abyss (Arnold Aronson) | Marcia Peschke | 16-April-2014 (Wed) | 17h00 – 18h00 |
| Simemezelo Xulu | Sarafina (Mbongeni Ngema) | Prof. Debbie Lutge | 16-April-2014 (Wed) | 18h00 – 19h00 |
| Nkosingiphile Dlamini | The Nurse/Umongikazi (Maishe Maponya) | Marcia Peschke | (Wed) | 19h00 – 20h00 |
