×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Fighting criminality through the arts

Victor Mecoamere

Victor Mecoamere

Dramatists Against Crime have enjoyed a healthy relationship with the countless artists who have made the yearly Stop Crime Drama Festival an 11-year success.

Starting off as a Gauteng-based youth development project, the festival has toured most of South Africa.

In doing their bit to change and/or shift youths' perceptions about crime, Dramatists Against Crime have established an almost peerless legacy.

Led by all-rounders Martin Koboekae and Julian Seleke Mokoto, Dramatists Against Crime encourages young people to produce their own plays with strong anti-crime themes.

The plays feature other young authors, directors, actors, stage managers and even those setting up the props and plotting lights and positions on stage.

Sowetan has adopted the festival as part of the youth development activities of the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Foundation.

The North West department of arts and culture is hosting the festival in Mmabatho in March. The Absa Foundation has added direly needed financial muscle.

The National Arts Council and the national Arts and Culture Department have also supported this enduring anti-crime initiative over the years.

The 2008 Stop Crime Drama Festival will take place at Mmabatho Mmabana Cultural Centre in Mmabatho over three days starting on March 27.

Auditions take place before that at the:

l Klerksdorp Community Hall in Klerksdorp on February 28;

l Taung Mmabana Cultural Centre in Taung on February 29;

l Mmabatho Mmabana Cultural Centre in Mmabatho on March 1. - Victor Mecoamere

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.