“The recipe for success, if you ask me, is someone who brings the team together, and that’s what Darryl Spijkers manages. He is absolutely the forerunner who creates the foundation on which one can build on.”
So says Lindie Strydom, whose brood is again part of the standouts at the 59th ATKV-Tienertoneel this year. Strydom’s three teenagers, Paul, Hugo and Nina, are in Parel Vallei High School and she was involved in the school’s marketing until May.
On Friday, for the third consecutive year, this school was awarded the national winner of the ATKV Teen Theater Competition with the production Away world. They receive R30 000 in prize money, the ATKV Teen Scene Change trophy and a play subject at the Toyota US Woordfees on 14 and 15 October.
The awards were presented during a grand event at the Lyric Theater at Gold Reef City in Johannesburg.
Parel Vallei High School was also named runner-up this year and received R20 000 in prize money for 23 kg. Martin Oosthuizen’s high school Bulldozer finished in third place and the production received R10 000 in prize money.
In addition Away world and punching bagParel Valley High School has a third production 23 kg presented under Spijkers’ guidance. According to Strydom is Away world one of the biggest productions the school has presented so far with more than 40 learners involved.
This is also the second time that Strydom’s son, Paul, has won the prize for best actor in a leading role. In 2022 he was awarded for his role as Paul in mAaNmAaTs and this year for his role as Tommy Away world.
Strydom tells RNews that prizes and recognition are just one of the reasons why she is proud of her children and the school’s performance. She says that for her it is more about the process and the growth that takes place, and the way in which the school community comes together.
“I’m proud of the friendships that have been formed, the camaraderie, of who our teenagers become in the process as they go on this journey. Darryl is always the first to remind us that winning is not a trophy. It’s a feeling.
“Teen scene is also a big team effort. Learners rehearse and work hard to learn words, and as parents and school community you are not just a spectator. Everyone becomes part of the process, the development of the production and the acting experience. There are parents who step in to help make clothes, and others lend a hand with the set.”
More than 3,000 teenagers from all over South Africa took part in the ATKV Teen Acting Competition this year. This is also the third year that the ATKV-Tjokkertoneel has taken place and this year 628 children told their stories on stage.
The top ten ATKV Teen Theater productions, including the first two productions in the learner-only category, and the top six ATKV Tjokker Theater productions, competed from 3 to 6 October in the finals held at the Lyric Theater at Gold Reef City in Johannesburg took place.
Experts from the industry who were in the judging chairs are Solomon Cupido, Lindsey Cele, Marlo Minnaar, Marié-Heleen Coetzee, Jacques Bessenger, Mari Molefe van Heerden, Wilhelm van der Walt and André Lotter.
During the awards event, the audience was entertained with various items by different dancers and the actor and comedian Solomon Cupido was the spicy master of ceremonies at the event.
The best young acting talent was named during a prestigious award ceremony on 6 October. Here follows a complete list of winners in this year’s ATKV Teen Drama Competition:
- Best stage manager: Ella Pennikof from Parel Valley High School with 23 kg.
- Best sound operator: Owen van der Linde from Jan van Riebeeck High School with Talk again soon.
- Best lighting operator: Danielle van der Watt from Hoërskool Noordheuwel with If the tin roofs could scream.
- Best handling of technical aspects: Parel Valley High School with Away world.
- Most promising performance in a role: Darren Cloete from Jan van Riebeeck High School as Daniël Meyer Talk again soon.
- Best actor in a supporting role: Joshua Simone from Parel Vallei High School as Brumilda Brummel in Away world.
- Best actress in a supporting role: Jana du Piesanie from Durbanville High School as Olivia The S effect.
- Best actor in a leading role: Paul Strydom from Hoërskool Parel Vallei as Tomie in Away world.
- Best actress in a leading role: Danelle Jacobs from Hoërskool Martin Oosthuizen as William in Bulldozer.
- Best Ensemble Work: Pearl Valley High School with Away world.
- Best director: Darryl Spijkers from Hoërskool Parel Vallei with Away world.
- Best media and marketing portfolio during the ATKV Teen Acting Competition for 2023, which receives a cash prize of R5 000: Hoërskool Parel Vallei with Away world.
- Best learner-only production, which receives a cash prize of R10 000: Hoërskool Parel Vallei with punching bag.
Awards for individual achievers at national level were also presented to the ATKV-Tjokkertoneel productions this year. The winners in these categories are:
- Best handling of technical aspects: Roodekrans Primary School with Forest wounds.
- Best ensemble work: Curro Durbanville (Primary School) with Eight.
- Best actress in a leading role: Judi Hattingh from Curro Durbanville (Primary School) as Julia Eight.
- Best actor in a leading role: Hanru Meyer from Laerskool Roodekrans as Basjan Forest wounds.
- Best director: Cecilia Wesson from Curro Durbanville (Primary School) with Eight.
Curro Durbanville (Primary School) was crowned as the national winner of the ATKV-Tjokkertoeneel competition with the production Eight.
