South African National Community Theatre Association
Categories:
Description
CELEBRATING 34 YEARS OF COMMUNITY THEATRE “BE SEEN IN 2014” Many of the top flight professional thespians we see on our stages today, have their roots in the Community Theatre movement and though they may have acted "just for a laff” in the beginning, many have gone on to be household names today. Such is the nature of community theatre; from humble beginnings for many at the outset to stardom for a few later on. However, those who retain their community status do so with great enjoyment and enthusiasm and whilst they may receive no remuneration for their efforts, still manage to produce highly skilled and slickly run pieces of work. SANCTA is a community association whose objective it is to raise the quality, status and profile of the community performing arts in order to make them viable once again and regain their place in the cultural life of our community. SANCTA sets about to achieve its objectives by running fully adjudicated regional festivals culminating in an annual Festival. We are now running a new Annual SANCTA Community Theatre Award system whereby all plays produced by community societies throughout the year, i.e. not just our festival entries -are scrutinised by their peers as well as members of the media, and awards are allocated to deserving participants in various categories, the zenith of which is the winner of the Best Production, and is presented with the coveted Naledi Award, sponsored by Distell Pty Ltd .SANCTA also runs an Annual new South Africa play writing competition., as well as a full length Play Competition. As a member of IATA, SANCTA, receives invitations to participate in festivals internationally including the Festival du Mondial, which is held in Monaco every four years and SA is privileged to have participated FROM 2001-2009. In 2003,members went to India and South America. Sancta is also a member of Naledi Awards. For more information please visit our Website www.sancta.org.za, join us on Facebook, or contact Noel Mc Donald on Phone (011) 4753584, cell (0833094315, Fax 0866733193 or via post PO Box 659, Allensnek 1737. AIMS: 1. To provide a learning experience for all concerned and to improve the overall standard of community dramatics and provide entertainment for localised audiences in suburbs and smaller centres outside of the mainstream professional theatre based in central Johannesburg thus increasing the exposure of those societies who can otherwise only perform in their local church hall, school hall and community centre. 2. To provide a showcase to demonstrate the heights, which may be attained by those, whom - in their spare time - devote many hours to the preparation and presentation of theatrical works. 3. To encourage aspirant scriptwriters to write for and have the opportunity of seeing their work performed for the first time and to provide a forum for lesser - known South African playwrights for the production of new and relevant South African works and to encourage the development of “workshopped” productions. Winning Plays may be entered into other festivals by Sancta, locally or abroad 4. To bolster the funds of SANCTA in order to host workshops in various disciplines pertaining to technical, directing and performing aspects of the arts during the course of the following year.