The annual Première Theatre Festival Curtain Call was held at the Adam Small Theatre Complex on 25 July. Première is an initiative that is organised by the University of Stellenbosch’s drama department and celebrates student-led productions. PHOTO: Lené Vorster
Stellenbosch University’s (SU) student-led production Violets, in Bloom took home multiple awards at the 2026 Première Curtain Call. The performance won the prestigious Best Production title, as well as R30 000 and a stage at the Toyota Woordfees in October.
Over the course of the week-long performance schedule, 12 student-led productions battled it out under the spotlights. The grand finale of Première 2026, held on Saturday, 25 July at the Adam Small Theatre Complex, saw the top three productions, Violets, in Bloom, Carrion Communion and Poppycock, compete for the title of best production.
The cast of Violets, in Bloom received their prize of R30 000 at the 2026 Première Curtain Call Finale. They will also be performing at the annual Toyota Woordfees in October. PHOTO: Lené Vorster
The Première Theatre Festival is an annual initiative that celebrates student-led productions. Productions are chosen by a panel of industry professionals and one representative from SU’s drama department, said Dr André Gerber, a lecturer at the same department. While around 25 to 30 productions apply each year, only 12 are chosen to be developed and performed.
“Première has been running for the last 8 years, and has developed the skills of hundreds of young theatremakers,” Gerber said.
Hafeez Arendse and Greta Marie Maschke, the leads of Violets, in Bloom, won the titles for Best Actor and Actress, with Arendse sharing his title with Aiden Davies, for his performance in another production, Caldera.
The production’s director, Skyla Cookson, won the award for best direction, and Cate Storm and Torden van Rensburg, from the same production, for Best Actress and Actor in a supporting role, respectively.
Opportunity for young actors to be themselves
Greta Marie Maschke, lead actress in Violets, in Bloom, said that Première is an opportunity for actors to be themselves.
“It helps you with your confidence to know that you did it yourself – [the students] built the sets, the students did the lighting, the students did the costumes,” she said.
Hafeez Arendse and Greta Marie Maschke won the titles for best actor and actress in the 2026 Première production Violets, in Bloom. PHOTO: Lené Vorster
Davies, who shared the title of Best Actor, described Première as an umbrella to catch the ideas of young theatre makers.
“You can throw whatever ideas you want, and you can almost be guaranteed that you’re not going to fall flat on your face,” he said. Davies also starred in Poppycock, the production that took home the trophy for Best Ensemble.
Amy Olivier, who took to the stage in Carrion Communion, explained that for many of the participating theatre makers, 2026 is their final year of Première.
“[Première] this year was very special. It felt like a family – we felt whole and everybody was supporting everybody.”
She said since the start of Première in 2018, the initiative has helped young theatre makers break into the industry.
The annual Première Theatre Festival is an initiative created by the University of Stellenbosch’s drama department and allows drama students from that department to celebrate each other’s hard work. PHOTO: Lené Vorster
“You get working opportunities and a stage. Huge opportunities. You don’t know who is sitting in the audience,” she said.
Both Olivier and Davies emphasised the importance of having spaces for students to step into the working industry with confidence.
“For a lot of young theatre makers it means a chance to bridge and build a foundation for their work to take into the future,” said Davies.