Six in French Schools Drama contest finale
Six schools, two each from the South, Central and Northern regions made it to the grand finale of the 32nd French Schools Drama competition to be held in Blantyre next month.
The schools made it to the grand finale following their triumph during the regional finals which took place on Saturday in the three regions.
In the Central Region which was held at Likuni Boys Secondary School in Lilongwe, seven schools battled it out and at the end of it all, the hosts Likuni came first with Robert Blake on second position. For coming first and second respectively, Likuni and Robert Blake have made it to the national final.
In the Northern Region, four schools participated in the contest held at Mzuzu University with Marymount coming top with Kaseghe scooping second position.
In the Southern Region held at Zingwangwa Secondary School in Blantyre, defending champions Jacaranda School for Orphans failed to claim the first position and settled for the second with Zomba Catholic coming first.
Actor and playwright Fumbani Phiri, who watched the contest in the Northern Region, described it as tough.
“The schools put up great performances although I would say there is still more room for improvement. The patronage was good. Schools needed to do more in terms of research as regards the theme ‘Climate change’. In terms of creative we need to pull our socks because most of the schools were short of this,” Phiri said.
Chancy Mauluka, a renowned dramatist, who was one of the judges in the Central Region, said the contest was good with some areas in need of improvement.
“There are areas which are not improving, for instance, utilisation of stage, how actors distribute themselves on stage to allow for instance, voice projection, voice is not taken seriously and so, there is need for patrons to be taken through theatre games for actors,” Chauluka said.
He said in terms of acting, most of the actors showed good skills.
“The stories as well need to improve to be human centred. There was need for moving and touching stories,” he said.
Coordinator of the event, Poya Chapweteka, bemoaned the pulling out of some schools at the eleventh hour.
“For instance Njamba pulled out in the Southern Region, Dedza in the Central Region also excused themselves. Schools need to be supported to participate in this competition for the sake of improving in the French language,” Chapweteka said.
Twenty schools had confirmed of their participation in the regional finals and with two pulling out, it meant only 18 were present.
According to him, the judges in the Southern Region were satisfied with the top school in the regional final as well as the second and that they deserved to go to the national final.
