Refined creative team for 2015 ACT Scholarships

Six vibrant performers will get a once in a lifetime opportunity during preparations for the 7th ACT | DALRO | Nedbank Scholarships Awards finale.

The finalists, who were selected after taking part in the arts talent competition’s national search, will join a creative team comprising industry professionals, and in the process will undergo intensive week-long rehearsals from 6 to 12 October for the final show.

The event, hosted at the iconic Market Theatre for the first time this year, will see the top six showcasing their acting, dancing and singing abilities to a live audience and an independent panel of judges.

The panel includes esteemed professionals – James Ngcobo, Ashraf Johaardien, Charlie van Rooyen, Caroline Smart and Jennis Williamson – who join a long list of industry greats and experts such as Gregory Maqoma, Kim Cloete, Nthati Moshesh, Bryan Schimmel, Anton Luitingh, Nolo Phiri and Bianca le Grange, who have previously judged the awards.

The creative team who will help refine the top six’s routines and put together a seamless production will be made up of well-known actor, theatre-maker and director, Jacques Bessenger who returns as Artistic Director and Franco Prinsloo who will work as Musical Director for yet another year. Market Theatre Laboratory apprentice Salome Sebola joins the team as Assistant Director. Because the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is passionate about continuous support and the grooming of young artists, this year previous winners Chantèl Evans (R105 000 prize winner in 2012) and Kamogelo Nche (R60 000 prize winner in 2013) will also bring their know-how to assist the hopefuls with choreography and dance performances.

Judges will select winners for three scholarships to the value of R150,000, R105,000 and R60,000 respectively. The funds, made possible by the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO) and Nedbank Arts Affinity, will afford the top three with opportunities to study any performing arts course at an accredited South African tertiary institution of their choice.

This year’s finals will be emceed by 20-year-old and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Musical Theatre student Raymond Motadi from Lephalale in Limpopo. The outspoken TshwaneFM radio presenter believes that hosting the Scholarships finals is the start of his vision to making a mark in South Africa’s entertainment industry, and ACT’s CEO Pieter Jacobs supports Raymond’s sentiments by sharing his views on the success of the great talent unearthed from individuals who have presented the Scholarships over the years.

“It’s encouraging to witness the impact this experience has on the careers of some of our previous presenters. Altovise Lawrence has gone on to emcee ACT’s 20-year celebrations and annual Awards ceremony in 2014 and Bongani Nomcweya made a number of appearances at Nedbank events after his stint on the Scholarships stage. The aim is to afford budding presenters an opportunity to exercise their emcee skills and we are delighted to see this result in career enrichment for these young people,” says Jacobs.

The final of the 2015 ACT | DALRO | Nedbank Performing Arts Scholarships will be held at the Market Theatre in Newtown on 12 October 2015, with additional support provided by the National School of the Arts (NSA) and Jade Bowers Design and Management. Needing to prove their ‘triple-threat’ status, the six finalists will each prepare singing, dancing and acting solos, and two group numbers; under the guidance of the creative team.

For more information on the Scholarships programme, please visit www.act.org.za.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

ABOUT THE MC
Raymond Motadi (MC)

20-Year-old Raymond hails from Lephalale in Limpopo and currently studies musical theatre at the Tshwane University of Technology. He is outspoken, and has a passion for entertaining. Raymond presents the breakfast show and an evening talk-show on TshwaneFM, which he balances with his studies. He has also started an LGBT youth organisation called Rainboukidz. Raymond sees emceeing the ACT | DALRO | Nedbank Scholarships Programme as the beginning stages of him making an impact in the South African entertainment industry.

ABOUT THE JUDGES

James Ngcobo
James Ngcobo joined the Loft Theatre Company in 1989, where he performed in productions such as A Nativity, Horn of Sorrow, Mujaji Circus Adventure, Three Musketeers, Moll Flanders, The Great Trek, The King Stag, Flat Spin, Spring Awakening and Jesus Christ Superstar. Since leaving the Loft, he has been seen on stage in La Ronde, Grass Roots, Leader of the Pack, The Good Woman of Sharkville, La Cage aux Folles, Robin’s a Cruise Ou, Waiting for Godot, Talk Radio, Cantina Tequila, 5 Guys Named Mo, Ways of Dying, Conference of the Birds and Cinders and her Fella. James toured the United Kingdom with The Cherry Orchard and also appeared in Happy Natives at the Soho Theatre in London. He appeared at the Baxter Theatre Centre in Glass Roots in 2004. He appeared in The Pen, A Whole in One and the Market Theatre production of Mike van Graan’s Green Man Flashing. He is currently the Artistic Manager of the Market Theatre.

Ashraf Johaardien
A multi-award winning playwright/actor and performing arts producer, Ashraf Johaardien has held strategic and leadership positions with several major South African arts and culture organisations for the past 15 years. He has been published widely his plays have been produced at mainstream theatres and festivals in South Africa and the USA, as well as in Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands. His best-known play, Salaam Stories (2002), was awarded the inaugural Spier-PANSA Jury Award and has been performed to more than 50 000 people on three continents. In 2008 he was named one of the Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans and was recognised with a Legends Award for his contribution to arts and culture in 2012. He is Head of Arts & Culture at the University of Johannesburg and Chief Editor of ART MUCH? Magazine.

Charlie van Rooyen
Charlie Van Rooyen is a professional Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher and Model. He was the runner up on the TV show SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE season3. Charlie has worked and performed in different parts of the world for the past 6 years where he learned a great deal of experience. He has worked with local and international choreographers, producers, directors and dance companies. Charlie choreographs for professional dance companies, corporate events, theatre work and commercial work. He had the opportunity to work with some big artists like: Trey Songs, Fresh Montana, Brandy, Miguel and many others…

Caroline Smart
Caroline Smart is a multi-award winning and well-known Durban theatre personality who has been involved in the professional performing arts industry for over 45 years. She has acted in over 60 plays, danced (in her earlier years) and has sung in about 20 musicals. She also appeared in numerous super theatre productions, many of which she wrote and directed. For her contribution to the arts in Durban, she received a Living Legend award from the eThekwini Municipality. She is also a judge for The Mercury Durban Theatre Awards and KZN DanceLink. She is also a Nominated Trustee for The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT).

Jennis Williamson
Talent-ETC™ Artist Management is managed by Jennis Williamson. In this capacity, Jennis is in charge of the day-to-day operation of Talent-ETC™ and he is responsible for all artist management and services within this division. Well known, experienced and at the leading edge of artist management and agency in South Africa, Jennis is thoroughly acquainted with the South African entertainment industry and brings valuable expertise, knowledge and specialist management skills to Talent-ETC™. Jennis also a director of Life in a Bulb Productions and to date has produced various music videos, and award winning short films for the kykNET Silwerskerm Festivals.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

Jacques Bessenger (Artistic Director)
Well-known in the South African performing arts industry, Jacques Bessenger works as an actor, theatre-maker and director. He has been the Artistic Director for the ACT | DALRO | Nedbank Scholarship Finals since 2010. Bessenger is best known for his role as Renier in the popular television drama series, Erfsondes, which earned him a 2013 SAFTA nomination and the ATKV Media Veertjie Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series. He received a NuMetro KykNET Silwerskerm Award in 2012 for his portrayal of the courageous Robert McLachlan in the critically acclaimed movie, Verraaiers; and a Tempo Award nomination in 2013 as Actor of the Year for his work in Erfsondes and Verraaiers. Despite his roles in numerous film, theatre and radio productions, and as a passionate teacher, Bessenger is likely to be most familiar to South African audiences through his appearances in several popular South African soaps. He has appeared in 7de Laan, Villa Rosa, Binnelanders and Isidingo, and can currently be seen on screens in KykNET’s new drama series, Donkerland, written by Deon Opperman.

Franco Prinsloo (Musical Director)
Composer Franco Prinsloo grew up in the town of Middelburg, in Mpumalanga. He studied music in Potchefstroom and sang in the PUK-choir where he developed his love for composition and choral music. He composes in a great variety of styles including choral, classical contemporary, new music, cabaret and theatre as well as pop music and electronica. He has composed and directed extensively for the stage including: Maanmond (2009), Boegoe vannie liefde (2010), Pygmalion (2011), A Dolls House (2012), Skroothonde (2013), A Clockwork Orange, Marat/Sade (2014) and Kind(s)(2015), to name but a few highlights. He is an active composer in the new music scene in South Africa, produces original concerts with fellow composers and performers in and around Gauteng and also composes commissions for choirs, soloists and ensembles. As a solo performer he has toured the country’s arts festival scene for numerous years with classical music productions, cabaret, film, drama and musical theatre. Recently he composed a musical Naledi, an African journey that will première in February 2016 both at the South African State Theatre and at the Choralies Festival in France. “Prinsloo assimilates and unites disparate traditions within his own idiom” – Paul Boekkooi, Beeld.

Salome Sebola (Assistant Director)
Salome Sebola is a performing arts graduate from the Market Theatre Laboratory. She has been involved in a number of school productions and played the lead role in Mr Big Shot, directed by Susanna Hendley. She has also been part of the award-winning play Milk and Honey directed by James Ngcobo as well as SHE directed by Lillian Tshabalala. The production SHE holds nominations from the Ishashalazi Theatre Festival under the categories; Best Production, Best Script, Best Director and Best Actress (Salome Sebola). Salome also holds a Basetsana Script Writing Award for Best Script Written by a Woman, presented by The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. When not on stage Salome works as a drama facilitator at schools in Johannesburg’s inner city as well her community of Tembisa. She recently directed a children’s play titled The First Letter Written which showed at The National Children’s Theatre in 2014. She worked with Jefferson Tshabalala in directing Market theatre Laboratory production South venturing North (2014) and has also worked under James Ngcobo’s guidance by assisting in the direction of 2014 Market Theatre production Ketekang. She has also facilitated and directed a play for the Hillbrow Theatre School’s Festival, and assisted Clara Vaughn in directing awarding-winning Noord for the South African Schools’ Festival in Grahamstown.

Chantèl Evans (Choreographer)
Chantèl Evans was always different from her family: she would dress up in her parents’ clothes and put on a show, interpreting different characters and singing her heart out. During her school years, Chantèl participated in Eiddstedfords, school revues and drama productions. After matriculating Chantèl participated in the Barnyard Search for Talent competition and the 2012 ACT | DALRO | NEDBANK Scholarships competition, where she was one of two winners. She is currently completing her 3rd year in Musical Theatre at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).

Kamogelo Nche (Choreographer)
This National School of the Arts Grade 12 Learner has been nurturing a passion for dance and the arts since a very young age. Kamogelo Nche started off with honing his skills as a street dancer and he subsequently fell in love with ballet and contemporary dance while doing drama in youth companies around Johannesburg. He appeared in numerous plays and dance productions and is now pursuing Musical Theatre at TUT.

ABOUT THE ARTS & CULTURE TRUST (ACT)
The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is South Africa’s premier independent arts funding and development agency. The primary aim of ACT is to increase the amount of funding available for arts and culture initiatives, and to apply these funds to innovative, sustainable projects that make a meaningful contribution to society. Through structured funding programmes, ACT provides support for all expressions of arts and culture, including literature, music, visual art, theatre and dance, and the support extends to festivals, community arts initiatives, arts management, arts education and arts administration. Follow ACT on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/actorgza or like the Trust’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Arts-Culture-Trust-ACT/162339817162875

The Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO) is a multi-purpose copyright society that collects royalties for the use of copyright-protected works on behalf of authors and publishers, which it then distributes back to the correct copyright-owner. As a custodian of copyright and the protection of rightsholders’ works, DALRO’s main areas of administration are reprographic reproduction rights (photocopying from published editions), public performance rights (including stage rights for book musicals and dramas) and reproduction rights (whether for publishing or copying) in works of visual art. For more information please visit www.dalro.co.za

The Nedbank Arts Affinity is a proud supporter of the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT). Since the inception of ACT in 1994, Nedbank has raised and distributed nearly R15 million through our Arts Affinity Programme, in support of more than 800 South African arts, culture and heritage development projects, at no cost to our clients. To open a Nedbank Arts Affinity account please visit any Nedbank branch or call 0860 555 111. For more information please visit www.nedbankarts.co.za

Based in Johannesburg’s vibrant Newtown Precinct, The Market Theatre was established in 1976 to operate as an independent, non-racial playhouse during the country’s apartheid regime. The theatre is renowned world-wide for brilliant anti-apartheid productions as well as the premieres of many of Athol Fugard’s award-winning dramas. The Market Theatre’s history is intertwined with the cultural, social and political struggle for freedom in South Africa. The Market Theatre’s ethos stems from a long line of developmental work through its performing art school, the Market Theatre Lab, and the establishment proudly supports the ACT | DALRO | Nedbank Performing Arts Scholarships Programme for the first time in 2015. For more information please visit www.markettheatre.co.za

Jade Bowers Design & Management specialises in directing, designing and stage management for theatre. Bowers graduated from the University of Cape Town (UCT) with a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Drama and Sociology and received an Honours degree at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) with a focus on directing and design for the stage.

Bowers was the recipient of the ImpACT award for Theatre in 2014 as well as one of the Pitch Perfect grants during the 2015 ACT | UJ Arts & Culture Conference, and she was named one of AfriPOP’s Top Five Female Theatre Makers in South Africa. She was nominated for a Naledi Award for Best Sound Design for iHAMLET in 2013 and for Best Cutting Edge production for What the Water Gave Me in 2014, and has recently received a Standard Bank Ovation Award for Tin Bucket Drum which was preceded by a Silver Ovation Award in 2014 from the National Arts Festival. She has worked as director and designer and has the titles of production manager, stage manager, festival director for WALE 4.0 under her belt. Bowers is currently a theatrical rights administrator at the Dramatic Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO).

ACT acknowledges support from the following organisations as regional partners: University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Baxter Theatre, Port Elizabeth Opera House (PEOH), Market Theatre, Mayibuye Arts Centre, University of the Free State’s Scaena Theatre, Witbank Civic Theatre and NWU Artéma Instituut vir Kunstebestuur en Ontwikkeling.

Author: Gilly Hemphill from The Famous Idea.
More Info link: http://www.act.org.za
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Finalists performing at the 2013 ACT DALRO Nedbank Performing Arts Scholarships(1)

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