artists tackle crime at drama festival

Victor Mecoamere

Victor Mecoamere

Tackling crime should be a collective effort says Selaelo Maredi.

The veteran artist is looking forward to the yearly Stop Crime Drama Festival in Mafikeng, North West, from March 27 to 29, when he will stage his guest production, The Core. The play is about a young woman who is trapped between two men, a defence lawyer and a prosecutor.

Other old hands who will also be showcasing their work as guest productions are Ntshieng Mokgoro (Thursday's Child) and Danny Jason (Black Age).

The festival encourages young actors, authors, directors and choreographers to stage productions with a strong anti-crime theme.

Maredi, who has worked as a playwright, director, composer and actor locally and overseas for more than 30 years, will be taking for the fourth time in this 12th yearly event. It is being presented by Dramatists Against Crime, Sowetan, North Sports, the Arts and Culture Department and Business Arts South Africa, among other key nation-building partners.

Nine groups have qualified for the festival and prizes for the best production, script, director, actor and for most-promising production, namely:

lChanges, directed by Percy Mothuping;

lSex Minus Caps Equals Aids, directed by Mzwakhe Kgagodi;

lDark Side of Life, directed by Kagiso Montoedi;

lJozi Maboneng, directed by Moeketsi Mafe;

lYour Face, directed by Rapula Khumalo;

lBokgoni, directed by Lebogang Ntsie;

lMinister, Deputy President, directed by Godfrey Thobejane;

lCell No. 4, directed by Presley Chweneyagae; and

lCheka Daai Ding, directed by Lebogang Inno.