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FEDA Rules
Please read carefully as these rules are subject to change.
Rules Of The Feda One Act Play Festival May 14 To June 2 2024 @lesedi Theatre Joburg Theatre Complex, Braamfontein
- The festival was created as a showcase for dramatic excellence and encouraging and motivating young actors and theatre makers.
- Please also remember that this is meant to be a student festival – Educators and professional theatre practitioners are obviously allowed to guide their students, but we encourage students to make their own creative choices. Teachers and professional practitioners should not take ownership of the productions and be solely in charge. We trust educators realise the importance of this platform is to demonstrate the talent of the student’s work and not the educator’s work.
- FEDA takes no responsibility for the content, language or theatrical content that schools choose to enter. We trust the Drama teachers who have the support of their Heads and schools and understand that theatre is often provocative, challenging and may sometimes offend sensitive viewers.
- An original play MUST be written by a student who is at a school at the time of FEDA. It cannot be written by an adult, a past student or teacher. Or if this is the case, the name must be given to the festival organisers and entered as a published work. This applies to collaborative and devised work as well.
- No one man shows are allowed. FEDA ENTRANTS MUST STILL BE AT SCHOOL.
- For the last few years, we have combined the Published and Original works into one section so there is less confusion.
- We try and accommodate all date requests, but times do sometimes shift due to reasons beyond our control. Please understand that once the schedule is done if schools need to change for reasons beyond their control, they will have to contact other schools and try and swop themselves.
- If a school enters more than one production FEDA would like to reserve the right to place the productions on separate nights. This is to encourage collaboration between schools and is in line with the spirit of the festival. We do know that this is not always possible.
- FEDA has the right to enter a “wild card” into the final showcase evening if the organisers believe a unique production should be seen again and it did not make the finals.
- Plays must be not less than 15 minutes and not more than 30 minutes – you are allowed to set up and strike – this should take no longer than 5 minutes. Please keep strictly to these times or the evenings are too long. We do not like to penalise students for being overtime, but your play will not be considered for the finals if you disregard these rules. It is of utmost importance you edit your productions accordingly. YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE FINALS IF YOUR PLAY IS OVER TIME.
- You must remove your set from the theatre after your performance at night. No sets can be left in the corridors backstage as other schools will be moving in the next day. if you make the finals you will bring it back and have another rehearsal on Saturday 2 June.
- It is the responsibility of the school to obtain the rights of the plays that they enter. Please ensure you have contacted the necessary publishing house such as Samuel French etc to pay and receive permission to perform the play you choose. FEDA is not responsible for securing rights of plays, and we will presume you have the rights to your chosen published play if you enter.
- Theatre etiquette is of utmost importance. We expect teachers to have advised their students to be respectful of all performances and respond appropriately. Parents and audience members must NOT leave or move around during a performance and will not be let in if they are late. We reserve the right to ask somebody to leave if their behaviour is irresponsible or disruptive. CELL PHONES AND DEVICES MUST BE SWITCHED OFF DURING PERFORMANCES.
- No photography or recordings are allowed. No smoking or use of fire is allowed on stage as per legal requirements of all theatre buildings. YOUR SAFETY IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
- Judges give a brief oral adjudication at the end of the evening.
- It is your responsibility to send the details of your production to FEDA (you will be sent a programme template) so that any certificates you win will have the correct names, spelling and details for the programmes we compile. This information MUST be in by the end of APRIL 2024
- The judges’ decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into in any form at all. Judges sign confidentiality clauses with FEDA. AUDIENCE MEMBERS MAY NEVER APPROACH THE JUDGES AFTER THE ADJUDICATION FOR FURTHER FEEDBACK. If they do so, they risk being disqualified.
- Judges for 2024 are CAROL FIELDS AND NONDUMISO LWAZI . FEDA prides itself on inviting the best theatre practitioners in the industry. ISMAIL MAHOMED AND NAT RAMABULANA WILL JUDGE THE FINALS which start at 3 pm on June 2.
- Photographs of performances are posted every night on our fedafestival face book page.
- Please remember how privileged we are to be given expert advice on lighting and sound and always treat the venue and staff with utmost respect. Anna Ledwaba is in charge on the day – her number is 074 548 6640. Or email Enos Ramoroko at enos@joburgtheatre.co.za
- Please contact FEDA immediately if anything occurs at the theatre that concerns you.
- Please use the Hoofd street back entrance when you arrive with your sets and buses.
- Teachers are reminded that they are in charge of backstage and actors and cannot expect the theatre staff to discipline and do artistic work for each production. Students must NEVER be left unattended in the venue.
- Please only use the ONE AND A HALF hours for your technical rehearsal allowed in the theatre. You must arrive on time and will not be permitted to go over time if you are late as this will inconvenience the school that is after your rehearsal.
- Please leave the dressing rooms as you find them.
- Please clean up all your props and costumes and remove them after your show. It is not the responsibility of the theatre staff to look after belongings. Neither FEDA nor the Joburg Theatre will be held responsible for any loss during the FEDA festival.
- Judges for 2023 are NAT RAMABULANA AND JANET BAYLIS. FEDA prides itself on inviting the best theatre practitioners in the industry. ISMAIL MAHOMED AND T/B/A WILL JUDGE THE FINALS
- Photographs of performances are posted every night on our fedafestival face book page.
- Certificates will be sent to the schools within two weeks of the festival ending. .
- The winner’s prize is to showcase their work at Redfest.
- Please use social media sites to advertise your play as there is a social media prize for the school who markets their production in the most effective and creative way. PLEASE ALWAYS HASHTAG #FEDAFESTIVAL.
- There will be a workshop for the student directors on the 19th February . Please try and attend to orientate yourself in the space. Teachers do not have to attend this workshop. All playwrights, actors, directors and stage crew are welcome. .
- The theatre is “dark” on Mondays but if we need to use it, it is available for FEDA.
- There is a prize for the marketing of a production on Social Media prize donated by Content Merchants.
- FINALISTS ARE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY JUNE 2 AFTER THE VERY LAST PLAY OF THE FESTIVAL HAS BEEN PERFORMED. THE FINALS WILL BE HELD AT 15:00 ON JUNE 4TH
- Certificates will be sent to the schools within two weeks of the festival ending. .
- The winners prize is to showcase their work at Redfest.
- Please use social media sites to advertise your play as there is a social media prize for the school who markets their production in the most effective and creative way. PLEASE ALWAYS HASHTAG FEDAFESTIVAL.
- Please also encourage your students to tweet on @fedafestival.
- Check out the FEDAfestival Facebook Page for updates and please send photographs of your productions in rehearsal.
- Our website has the theatre specs and information that you will need to plan your production – please make use of it.
- Contact Janet on 0834478595 or Phillipa at 0834528038 or email Amy on sandilands.amy@gmail.com if you need any help.
- If you enter more than one play it costs an extra R2 000.00 to the initial entrance fee of R3,500.00. Each school may only enter two plays initially – further entries will be permitted space allowing.
- Tickets must be purchased from the Joburg theatre web site www.joburgtheatre.com
- Entry fees must be made to the Feda account Nedbank Benmore Gardens 1048284875. Please send proof of payment feda@fedafestival.co.za
- Once you have paid we will reserve a slot in the Festival for you.
- Entrance fee must be paid by March 10, 2024– it is on a first come first in basis as there is a limit on the number of entries we can accept. We often have a waiting list so please plan ahead.
- Any play that cancels less than a month before, forfeits their entry fee. This applies to collaborations of schools as well. The teacher in charge must take responsibility for this. It is not fair to hold a slot until the festival and cancel when we have a waiting list. Please plan carefully.
- FEDA has an outreach programme, and you can approach us if your school is struggling to cover the entrance fee.