AFDA Johannesburg launches new 75-seater theatre
The AFDA School of Live Performance opened its new 75-seater Red Roof Theatre @AFDA on Friday, May 9 with a festival of four award-winning professional theatre productions.
The impressive set of plays that have been presented over the 10 day festival include the internationally acclaimed cult production THE EPICENE BUTCHER AND OTHER STORIES FOR CONSENTING ADULTS; Gina Shmukler's docu-drama THE LINE with Khutjo Green (Naledi Award Winner for Best Actress) and Gabi Harris; Amanda Strydom's multilingual cabaret, STATE OF THE HEART, that pokes fun at the Afrikaner soul and gives a glimpse of the history of South Africa from the twenties to the late seventies; and Phillip M Dikotla's Fleur du Cap winning performance in SKIERLIK.
In 2012 AFDA reintroduced its theatre-training programme that had been dormant since 2006. It also added a programme in Music Performance that trains singer / songrwriters. Greg Homann joined AFDA at the beginning of last year and under his headship the Live Performance School has rapidly grown in numbers. Joining the staff of Justin Strydom, Drikus Volschenk and Coenraad Rall, the school employed new staff members Camilla Waldman and Heidi Edeling, along with an impressive list of professional practitioners who serve the school as part-time teachers. These include Daniel Buckland, Ameera Patel, Prince Lamla, Gina Shmukler, and Robert Coleman.
At the beginning of this year the AFDA School of Live Performance in Johannesburg confirmed three Chairs in its discipline training of Screen Acting, Stage Acting and Music Performance. These chairs are Linda Sokhulu, David Dennis and Judith Sephuma respectively.
The festival ends this weekend with SKIERLIK being performed on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 May at 7.30pm. SKIERLIK, written and performed by Phillip Dikotla, was the winner of best production at the Zabalaza Theatre Festival 2013, and a Standard Bank Ovation Award at the 2013 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
Tickets are R80 (R50 for students). To book call 011 482 8345 or at the theatre box-office.
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For further media info and enquiries email Greg Homann (gregh@afda.co.za)