This year, for the first time since the Première Theatre Festival’s inception eight years ago, a physical theatre production won best overall production in this competition.
This is according to André Gerber, co-organiser of the eighth Première Theatre Festival and lecturer at Stellenbosch University’s (SU) drama department.
Kenan ennie Klopse also won the award for best ensemble at the festival, which was hosted from 22 to 26 July, according to Gerber.
Physical theatre is a genre that emphasizes the body’s role in storytelling, rather than relying on spoken dialogue, according to Alyssa Jacobs, a BAHons (Drama and Theatre Studies) student at SU, who was a performer and script writer for Kenan ennie Klopse.
‘A different form of representation’
Kenan ennie Klopse is a story of belonging, with Kenan, the protagonist, being trapped between his own dreams and the shadow of his grandfather’s legacy, said Jacobs.
Through dance, Kenan learns to move at his own pace, she said.
The cast of Kenan ennie Klopse received an award for best production at the Première Theatre Festival on 26 July. From left to right: Wyatt Afrika, Jasmine Madune, Jeanne-Marié Koekemoer, Alyssa Jacobs, and Mia Groenewald. “I wanted to portray a fresh perspective of coloured stories on stage, celebrating what we are as coloured people,” said Alyssa Jacobs, a BAHons (Drama and Theatre Studies) at Stellenbosch University, who was a performer and script writer for Kenan ennie Klopse. PHOTO: Kyla Laing
Kenan ennie Klopse focuses on bringing diverse aspects of the coloured experience to the stage, according to Jacobs.
“I wanted to show the beauty of a culture I grew up in,” said Jacobs. “I wanted to bring a different form of representation to the stage, beyond the few narratives that are often repeated and narrowly focused on.”
Winners received a R30 000 cash prize and will be given the opportunity to perform at the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees 2025.
“The intention of the money is to help you take your production to the next level,” said Gerber. “Some productions buy new props or decor pieces, some use it for travel expenses.”
“I would love to spend the money on furthering [Kenan ennie Klopse] and making it even better,” said Jacobs.
Kenan ennie Klopse recently won best production and best ensemble at the eighth Première Theatre Festival on 26 July. “I couldn’t believe it,” said Alyssa Jacobs, script writer and performer for Kenan ennie Klopse. “I immediately got teary eyes. I could see what it meant, not only to me, but to a lot of people in the department.” PHOTO: Kyla Laing
A year of diversity
The 2025 festival was one of the most linguistically diverse to date, with an increased number of bilingual productions that blended Afrikaans and English in their scripts, said Gerber.
“We had quite a lot of new participants and younger students that participated for the first time,” said Elana-Marié Snyman, co-organiser of the festival and lecturer at SU’s drama department.
The Première Theatre Festival is hosted by Stellenbosch University’s (SU) drama department and aims to develop student theatre, encouraging the creation of new and exciting work, as well as promoting audience awareness with participating students. This is according to André Gerber, co-organiser of the festival and lecturer at SU’s drama department. PHOTO: Kyla Laing
In previous years, the subject of productions centered around mental health, self-reflection, and Covid, according to Saartjie Botha, a judge at the festival and the head of the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees.
“This year was interesting in terms of subject matter and imagination,” said Botha. “Students are tackling bigger, more complicated, and less self-centred subject matter.”
“Physical theatre is, in a way, also a language,” she said. “Kenan ennie Klopse was Afrikaans, English, and physical, making it multilingual on all levels.”
The cast of Yellowtail, one of two physical theatre productions that made it to the finals of the Première Theatre Festival on 26 July. The cast, from left to right, included: Kálene Botha, Jurie Boshoff, Shanye Joseph, Unam Sota, Shannon Hendry, and Mila Sobolewski. PHOTO: Kyla Laing