adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A school drama group from Gifford Boys High created its own legacy after coming first in this year’s national drama festival competition at Thekwane High School in Bulilima District last Thursday.The school which has maintained the position for the third time in a row managed to shrug off stiff competition from nine other schools that were representing various provinces.
Empandeni High School from Mangwe District in Matabeleland South was also a force to reckon with as they took second position. For coming out tops, Gifford Boys High walked away with a shield and a certificate. Empandeni High also left with a shield and certificate.
Sitting on position three was Chaplin High representing Midlands Province followed by Mpopoma High from Bulawayo Province. On position five was the host school Thekwane High from Matabeleland South Province.
Christ Ministries High from Harare took sixth position while Moleli High from Mashonaland West came seventh. At the bottom were Masvingo Christian, Howard High from Mashonaland Central and Fatima High from Matabeleland North who were tied on position eight.
Mpopoma High School pupil, Bongisani Nhlane, was named best actress while Norbert Makoche from Gifford High School was named best actor. The theme for the competitions was “The Empowered Woman”.
Speaking during the National Association of School Heads (Nash) competition, Matabeleland South Provincial Education Director Tumisang Thabela urged schools to incorporate theatre and arts into their curricula.
She said most schools did not prioritise drama which made some presentations substandard.
“The children that we’ve seen here should not be merely used as tools of entertaining us. Rather I hope schools will help them to develop their talent and become accredited for it so that they can use it for career purposes,” said Thabela.
She said in order to fulfil this role, schools had to form viable theatre and arts departments and make the subject examinable.
She said universities had to work towards offering theatre and arts courses in order to accommodate talent released by schools.
“Drama should not be an activity which a group of children do after school with the assistance of a teacher who appears to have extra time on their hands. We want drama to be a subject that will be slotted in the time table,” she said.
One of the adjudicators, Nelson Mapako, urged the drama group patrons to develop story lines which are relevant to young people.
“The theme for the competitions was ‘The Empowered Woman’. What we expected was for drama groups to tackle it from the aspect of school pupils as well. However, all plays were focusing on adult lives. It’s not only the adults who have to be empowered but also the girl child,” he said.
Mapako also urged patrons to nurture their drama groups further. He also pointed out that presentations made by drama groups had to be realistic and reflect the actual happenings of society.
Next year’s drama competition will be held in Masvingo Province.
Online Reporter