Ubom! Eastern Cape Drama Company
Background to the Makana Development Festival
Annually, since 2003, Ubom! Eastern Cape Drama Company has invited community theatre groups to create a piece of theatre to be staged at Rhodes University theatre. Workshops are held where theatre techniques such as directing, acting and devising theatre are approached. It is encouraged that the element of competition amongst the groups will raise the standard of the productions as well as making for good entertainment. The use of the University facilities aims to expose the groups to working with lighting and stage management demands. It is hoped that this will not only benefit the dramatists professionally, but will also assist in creating an enduring alliance between the community artists and the University through which drama in our community can grow.
The Makana Drama Development Festival 2008
On Friday, 31 October 2008, an exciting and vibrant event took place at the Rhodes Theatre. After many weeks of hard work, community theatre groups had the chance to compete against each other and present their works in front of an audience. A Festival such as this truly lies at the heart of Ubom!’s Heartbeat Theatre, where the focus is on creating opportunities and uplifting people through theatre and the arts in the Eastern Cape.
The Makana Drama Development Festival is divided into a junior and senior group, and in these categories the various groups competed for the titles and prizes of Best Director, Best Production, Best Ensemble etc. The performances proved to be dynamic, energetic and diversified, and it was an all-round fantastically entertaining show.
Ubom! performer/facilitator Thami Baba works with children from local schools to develop drama plays for
the MDDF.
=
Kate,Ubom!StageManager, holds a workshop on the technical aspects involved in theatre, which provides a basic knowledge for local community theatre artists
Warm up games stimulate the children’s bodies and minds
Jaque de Silva oversees a dance-off in his workshop.
Ubom!’s resident director, Brink Scholtz, works with senior community artists in developing their writing and directing skills/talents.
