The drama team from Kearsney College received seven awards at the first KwaZulu-Natal Drama Festival (FEDA). Their production 'Mob Feel' was recognized with numerous accolades, including Best Production.
The drama team from Kearsney College received seven awards at the first KwaZulu-Natal Drama Festival (FEDA). Their production 'Mob Feel' was recognized with numerous accolades, including Best Production.
The college students won awards for best choreography, best ensemble, best live music, best actor, best directors, most inspiring performance, and the festival's grand prize—Best Production. The festival took place at the Milkwood Theatre in Durban North and gathered 10th and 11th-grade students from 12 KwaZulu-Natal schools.
The production 'Mob Feel' is an ambitious adaptation of a well-known play by Kane Smith. 11th-grade students Senzo Phiri and Mukona Maragheni undertook the challenging task of adapting the original two-person play for an ensemble of 14 under the guidance of Kearsney's Head of Drama, Ulaeth Singh.
The work, inspired by Ken Themba's short story 'Mob Passion', tells the story of two young lovers whose relationship is destroyed by gangster violence in Johannesburg in the 1950s. The play explores themes of prejudice, division, and reconciliation, remaining relevant to modern South Africa while conveying a strong message of universal love, compassion, and shared humanity.
As a prize, the group has been invited to perform their production 'Mob Feel' at the Hilton Arts Festival this month. Dr. Ismail Mohammed, Director of the University of KwaZulu-Natal Creative Arts Centre and one of the festival judges, highly praised the work, calling it an 'absolutely brilliant production' with excellent ensemble, acting, and technical execution.
Singh noted that the success reflects the dedication and creativity of the students. She emphasized that the awards recognize not only talent but also the courage, discipline, and commitment of the students to using theatre as a powerful medium for storytelling and social change.
The Kearsney Choir returned home this weekend after a outstanding debut at the prestigious World Choral Festival held in Hong Kong. The choir was one of the most prominent participants in the competition, winning double gold and receiving more awards than any other choir at the event.
The Kearsney College Choir won in both categories—Children's Choirs and Show Choirs. These achievements secured their place in the Grand Prix final concert of the festival, which featured winners from various parts of the world.
The awards continued at the final concert: Kearsney received recognition for Best Musical Interpretation and Best Stage Presence, as well as a well-deserved Jury Prize. This prize was awarded for the choir's high musical skill, artistic value, and consistently outstanding performances throughout the festival. The decision was made by an international jury consisting of 38 conductors from 17 countries.
The World Choral Festival, organized under the auspices of the European Grand Prix of Choral Music, is one of the leading international choral competitions. More than 70 choirs from 19 countries participated, including ensembles from New Zealand, Canada, Latvia, Estonia, and Malaysia. Kearsney was the only choir representing Africa.
This international recognition strengthens the choir's reputation as one of South Africa's leading school ensembles.
Kearsney's Music Director, Bernard Krueger, noted that the boys handled the task excellently, demonstrating immense dedication, passion, and professionalism throughout the festival. He added: 'We are truly proud of our success; however, the real benefit lies in the boys' interaction with other choirs, attending masterclasses with brilliant international specialists, and getting to know Asian culture and cuisine.'
Krueger emphasized that representing South Africa on such a prestigious international stage was an incredible honor, and the fact that they were the only African choir at the festival made the achievement particularly significant. He concluded: 'We had the privilege of showcasing not only Kearsney but also African choral music and performance traditions. The reaction from the audience, fellow choirs, and judges was overwhelmingly positive, making this experience unforgettable for the boys for life.'
