Drama is  not being the best performer or a star. It is about creating, making, exploring and responding in the search of our true selves..

Drama is a dynamic practice that introduces students to a world of wonders and play. It also encourages them to continue questioning, exploring and teasing our new ideas and ways of living and thinking in drama learners also benefits are:

• Self confidence
• Empathy and tolerance
• Communication skills
• Problem solving

At St Matthews high school we have  learners who are taking part in Sifunda Kunye drama club under the supervision of Sanga Mabulu. These learners are leading by example. Here is some action photos of our drama clubs:

Drama

This term we had an event hosted by drama learners of ST Matthews High School. The event did not only showcase the talent of our learners but also showcasing what they have been learning  at the drama club, this was an opportunity for learners who are not members of drama to experience the new talent and spectacular even of seeing a live performance being performed by their peers . These learners performed poetry, drama, contemporary dance and ‘pantsula’ dance. Back up performers assisted with back ground sound and props.

On the 4th of June 2018, The SKLP drama club went to Grahamstown Art Festival

We went to the international Library of African Music (ILAM), accompanied by  Mthwakazi.. Who is a musician and Plays an Instrument known as Uhadi, its one of the African ancient music instruments originally from South Africa..

We met Dr. Lee who is an expert in African Music Instruments and he and his team are on a verge to reintroduce the Ancient African Music instruments to the world and music industry. We were introduced to knew instruments that we never saw before and we had sessions with Dr. Lee and Mthwakazi about ILAM and brainstorming sessions on the challenges faced by many Young Lady’s and we had the privilege to learn how to play uHadi and we made a dance using uHadi as our music instrument and used one of the methods Dr. Lee taught us on an instrument used for a dance that was intended for self-defense and we made a dance on defending The Young Lady’s who are sexually abused.

We had unquestionably show stopping performance and unforgettable experience.

Mihlali Tiso

Performing arts at Saints!

Our performing arts learners had the opportunity to work with “”pusher cast”‘ from Cape Town, they were at our school for two days doing workshops and performing a play for our learners at St Matthews High school . The artists that were performing are freelancing International artist.

Our learners also attended other workshops that were taking place in King Williams Town. They first watched a play about Chris Hani. Our drama learners also performed and will be presented on our local news channel SABC 2. The drama learners show cased dancing skills taught at our drama facility at St Matthews High School.

We would like to thank, Mbongeni Nomkonwana, Director from pusher cast from Cape Town for the workshop that he has presented at our school.

Drama teacher – Sanga Mabulu

Seventy learners from four area schools explored creativity, learning, and self-expression in an intense writing camp over the weekend. The camp was sponsored and hosted by the Sifunda Kunye Educational Project, a local public benefit organization that has been active in the King Williams Town district since 2008.

Sifunda Kunye invites 10 to 15 learners from each of its partner schools in the King William’s Town District and Grahamstown district participate in these camps. This past weekend, learners from St. Matthew’s, Xolani, Richard Varha, Toise and Hendrik Kanise combined Schools spent an intense 3 days (Friday-Sunday) focusing on a specific theme, completing personal works, and submitting them for peer critique. This session’s theme was “Dreams are made of…” and learners were encouraged to express what dreams and ambitions means to them in essays, poems, and group discussions and drama. Participants received guidance from a talented group of volunteer facilitators, student leaders, and the Sifunda Kunye staff. Participants submit their work for inclusion into a published student journal at the end of the camp. The journal is a unique opportunity for many to see their work in print.

Learners and teachers are continually impressed with the writing camps. Participants relish the opportunity to engage in an in-depth weekend of imaginative learning. They enjoy improving their language and writing skills in a fun and creative venue outside of the classroom. Teacher’s enjoy witnessing the progress these young writers make over the course of a weekend.

The Sifunda Kunye Literacy Project’s writing camps have been successfully running since they first launched in August 2014. Sifunda Kunye supports literacy and technology programs in Eastern Cape schools.