YOUTH drama groups in North West are invited to audition their anti-crime stage plays for the 2010 Stop Crime Drama Festival. The event takes place in Mmabatho, Mafikeng, in March.

YOUTH drama groups in North West are invited to audition their anti-crime stage plays for the 2010 Stop Crime Drama Festival. The event takes place in Mmabatho, Mafikeng, in March.

This 14th annual anti-crime showcase was won last year with Cell Number 4 by Presley Chweneyagae, who starred in the Oscar award-winning movie Tsotsi. It was produced by Dramatists Against Crime's Martin Koboekae and Jullian Seleke-Mokoto.

The festival is supported by nation-building partners including Sowetan, Absa and the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Foundations and North West sports, arts and culture department.

Audition pieces must be five-handers no longer than 15 minutes, conveying strong anti-crime messages without resorting to vulgarity.

Auditions will take place in Potchefstroom on February 18 at 2pm, Taung on February 19 at 2pm, Mmabatho on February 20 at 11am and Rustenburg on February 21 at 10am.

Qualifying productions will be featured in the festival and will vie for prizes in categories including best production, script, director, actor and most-promising production. For more information, call Martin Koboekae on 082-965-6256 or e-mail: martinkobo@gmail.com