President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on Monday 4 April that the cabinet had decided to end the National State of Disaster came as a huge relief for the organisers of the Thola Drama Festival.
The festival, which sees high schools competing against each other in comedy, music and poetry, did not happen the last two year due to the lockdown restrictions.
However, organisers say it is all systems go for this year’s event. The festival will take place between Friday 8 and Sunday 10 April at the Lwandle community hall.
Established in 2017, the festival is the brainchild of Kuyakhanya Production. It is designed to equip young talents from Lwandle and surrounding areas through performing arts, while educating, healing and uniting people through art.
Yandisa Magagana, project manager, said they are expecting the different groups to come “guns blazing” after being unable to perform for two years.
“We know for a fact that young people have been eager to show their different talents on the stage. But with he Covid-19 pandemic all that took a back-seat as we could not secure halls or be in contact with a number of people,” he said.
Magagana said Ramaphosa’s announcement opened more doors for them. “This will be our fourth annual festival and we are all looking forward to it after such a long time of absence. The interest of this festival is far and wide as we have attracted people from as far as Robertson, Stellenbosch and Khayelitsha,” said Magagana. He said they are expecting something with a lot of energy to be displayed on the festival days.
