Proscenium Drama Competition
Welcome to the multilingual Proscenium Drama Competition! 2025’s competition will again offer high school learners from grade 8 to 12 an opportunity to participate individually and to express their creativity on a national level.














How does it work?
You will meet successful professional actors and other mentors, and you will rub shoulders with like-minded achievers in cultural and other fields. By the time you reach the finals at Artscape, your network will be much stronger with valuable contacts.

This is a Tribuo project


What is the purpose?
The aim of the competition is to introduce young actors to the world of the performing arts. Participants are exposed to various facets of the entertainment industry, such as theatre, television, radio and dubbing. Your career decisions will be much better informed after this experience. You will also forge valuable links during the final rounds at Artscape. Enter now and become part of an unforgettable experience.
Timeline
Date | What happens? | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 October 2024 | Entries open for 2025 | ||||||||||
27 January 2025 | Closing date for entries | ||||||||||
21 February – 28 March 2024 | Audition rounds in various centres | ||||||||||
4 April 2025 | Finalists announced | ||||||||||
Finals at Artscape Theatre: 15 – 17 May 2025 |
Rules for participants
- Participants may use material in Afrikaans and/or English. Poems presented in the audition and second rounds, may be in any other official South African language, but candidates are required to provide adjudicators beforehand with a summary or translation of the original text.
- Time limits must be observed strictly. If participants exceed prescribed time allocations, they will be stopped.
- After the closing date for entries (27 January 2025), participants will be informed about the date of their first round. Other practical arrangements will also be made. Elimination rounds will be held in various centra all over the country.
- All high school learners (grade 8 to 12) may enter, but all participants will compete on the same level.
- Any school, private drama school or teacher may enter pupils. Individuals can also enter on their own.
- Candidates compete individually, even if they enter under the name of their school, private drama school or teacher.
- After 26 March 2025, the 60 participants who qualify for the final rounds, will be informed. Final rounds will be held on 15 – 17 May 2025 at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town.


Round specifications
Elimination round
Round one
Round two
Round three
Round four
- A poem (own choice)
-
A prose excerpt (own choice)
The programme may not exceed 6 minutes. - A short improvisation (The topic will be announced by the adjudicator.)
- After this round, adjudicators will select 60 participants who qualify for the next round.
-
An excerpt from a play (monologue).
The programme may not exceed 5 minutes. - After this round, adjudicators will select 30 participants who qualify for the next round.
- A poem (own choice)
-
A prose excerpt (own choice)
The same work presented in the previous round may be used.
The programme may not exceed 6 minutes. - After this round, adjudicators will select 16 participants who qualify for the next round.
- A radio audition at RSG studios in Sea Point.
- Act in a scene on the set of the kykNET soapie Suidooster.
- A dubbing audition at Overklank Studios.
- After this round, adjudicators will select 8 participants who qualify for the next round.
- A well-balanced programme with emphasis on variety and diversification.
- The programme may be presented around a central theme, and may include poetry, prose, drama, singing, mime and, if needed, commentary (binding text).
- Items from previous rounds may be used.
- The programme may not exceed 12 minutes.
Competition rules
- Participants may use material in Afrikaans and/or English. Poems presented in the audition and second rounds, may be in any other official South African language, but candidates are required to provide adjudicators beforehand with a summary or translation of the original text.
- Time limits must be observed strictly. If participants exceed prescribed time allocations, they will be stopped.
- All high school learners (grade 8 to 12) may enter, but all participants will compete on the same level.
- Entries are submitted online at proscenium.pro
- An entry fee of R200,00 per entry is payable via EFT.
- After the closing date for entries (27 January 2025), organisers will inform participants about the date of their elimination round.
- Any school, private drama school or teacher may enter pupils. Individuals can also enter on their own.
- Candidates compete individually, even if they enter under the name of their school, private drama school or teacher.
- Adjudication will be done by professional experts, appointed by the competition organisers.
- After 4 April 2025, the 60 participants who qualify for the final rounds, will be informed. Final rounds will be held on 15-17 May 2025 at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town.
- After the final rounds on 17 May, all winners will be announced during the prize-giving ceremony in Artscape’s Theatre in Cape Town.
- Results will be final and the adjudicators’ scores will remain confidential.
Prizes

2024 Winners
Right in first place: Blyde Schoeman
Middle in second place: Francois Retief
Left in third place: Rico Immelman
Radio drama
RSG will select actors from the final rounds to play in a radio drama.


Certificates
All finalists will receive certificates.
Northlink College bursary
Grade 12 finalists can apply for a bursary to study at Northlink College.


2024 Northlink Bursary Winner
Roderick Carroll with Northlink’s Academic Head, Eloise Lotz.
Various other prizes and opportunities
Watch this space for more exciting surprises to be announced soon.
