Theatre Divisions Professional Theatre to Training

Professional theatre: Three to five professional productions are produced annually by the Klein Libertas Theatre Production House under the direction of Juanita Swanepoel, the in-house director of the theatre, who received various national awards for her direction. These productions are staged at arts festivals (Volksblad, Aardklop, Innibos, Cederberg, Woordfees, Suidoosterfees, KKNK) and venues countrywide. An income is therefore created for professional and amateur actors on a continuous base. Many of the actors received nominations and awards for their acting.

Amateur theatre: Before the theatre was destroyed by a fire in 2015 the Klein Libertas Theatre produced one amateur drama production annually – usually in December – where members of the community had the opportunity to be part of a high quality professional performance. As far as possible, amateur actors were also used in professional productions during the year  where they had the opportunity to act in professional productions with professional actors.

Children en Youth theatre: Because of its low income potential for actors, the Klein Libertas Theatre usually only does children and youth theatre on assignment. The KKNK appointed several children’s theatre shows as well as secondary school productions to the theatre in the past and the Cape Winelands District Municipality assigned  Environmental Awareness Programmes (English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa) in Stellenbosch, Drakenstein, Witzenberg and Breedevallei areas to the Klein Libertas Theatre.

Music theatre: The KLTKoor was founded by Rika Vermeulen in 2011 and is dependent on donations and sponsors to function optimal. With their first concert they had a standing ovation. They survived overwhelming challenges, worst of which was the fire that destroyed their home, the Klein Libertas Theatre. Since its inception the choir has performed with several well-known artists (like Francois van Coke, Leroi Nel, three opera singers, a string trio and a rockband) and performed at the Solms-Delta Oesfees, US Woordfees and were on VIA TV with Coenie de Villiers. Because of the loss of the theatre building the choir had to start operating independently.

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Community theatre: The Klein Libertas Theatre commits itself to projects in the community in and around Stellenbosch with the aim to:

  • Keep children and teenagers busy in a constructive way and accommodate those who do not have an interest in sports
  • Motivate our youth and give them hope
  • Build self-confidence and self-esteem
  • Teach problem solving
  • Develop leaders
  • Stimulate creativity
  • Develop concentration
  • Build skills
  • Contribute to a balanced and appropriate set of norms and values
  • Create jobs for actors (professional and amateur) and encourage entrepreneurship

Training Theatre, Radio, TV and Film Production

There is a tremendous need by young people between the ages of 18-30 to be trained in the different disciplines of theatre, radio, TV and the film industry.  Before the fire in 2015 the Klein Libertas Theatre offered informal training but were in the process of starting with more formal training in 2016.

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The curricula for the training programmes below were planned, designed and drawn up in partnership with the Department of Drama of the University of Stellenbosch and other professional experts in the entertainment business. The theatre have a long list of people who anxiously want to be trained.

Drama Training Plan

ACTING:

    Speech, Directing, Make-up, Costume, Puppetry, Props, Design and Construction, Planning and writing a script, Stage Management, Theatre Administration, Marketing

All students participate in two productions

MIKROPHONE TRAINING AND RADIO WORK:

    Voice techniques, Analysis and handling of a script, Individual and group work, Sound Tracks, Sound Effects, Recordings

TV PRESENTING and the FILM INDUSTRY:

    TV presenting, TV interviews, TV- and Film Acting, Audition techniques, Visual communication, Auditive communication, Vocal and verbal communication