ATKV Tjokkertoneel and Tienertoneel - Curro Durbanville

ATKV Tjokkertoneel and Tienertoneel. Photo above: Mensdom Cover. Learners from Curro Durbanville Primary and High School have once again proven their theatrical prowess. They secured top six and top ten spots in the prestigious ATKV Tjokkertoneel and Tienertoneel national finals. The winning production will be announced at the Artscape in Cape Town on Saturday, 28 September 2024.

The high school’s production Mensdom is written and directed by teachers Lize-Meri Amann and Deon van Zyl. It has already made waves by winning Best Production at the ATKV Tienertoneel Streeksfinaal 2 competition. Inspired by the 1530 Medieval play Everyman but modernised with influences from poet Breyten Breytenbach, the play explores the struggle of humanity—represented by the character Mensdom—against fate and the inevitability of death.

Reflecting on the production’s success, Amann shared, “Creating Mensdom was an intense process that required unwavering commitment from both the cast and crew. The learners’ growth and development throughout the project have been nothing short of extraordinary. This was truly a collaborative effort. To see it is also recognised at such a high level is immensely gratifying.”

A Powerful Tale of Kindness and Connection

Written and directed by Cecilia Wesson, the primary school’s production, Die Storietafel or The Story Table, takes audiences on a heartfelt journey through the lives of orphaned children at the fictional Harthuis Orphanage. The play revolves around Nelia. She is a young girl who arrives at the orphanage after the passing of her grandmother, only to face bullying from a group of girls. As the characters share their stories, it also becomes clear that their past experiences have shaped who they are today.

Wesson, who also heads the drama club at the primary school, expressed how working on Die Storietafel has been a transformative experience for the young cast, ranging from Grade 5 to 7 learners. “Witnessing the learners delve into their characters and the story’s message has been a remarkable journey. The play highlights the importance of kindness and the idea that even in the face of adversity, we can find family in one another and the learners have grown together, forming deep connections and mutual respect, which is at the heart of what this play is all about,” she said.

Riaan Stroebel, Executive Head at Curro Durbanville praised the hard work of learners and staff stating, “This is only our second year participating in ATKV Tjokkertoneel and the Tienertoneel competition, and we’ve already reached the finals with both our primary and high school productions. We also plan to celebrate these achievements by performing the plays for our school community, ensuring our learners know how proud we are of their dedication and hard work. We hope this experience will inspire them to continue growing in confidence and aim for the world stage.”