Holy Family College Dazzle Audiences with Mandela Day Theatre Production

by Daluxolo Moloantoa · July 24, 2023

Photo: Holy Family College

On 3 November 2017 the Holy Family College, in Johannesburg`s Parktown, hosted an event to remember the 100th anniversary of erstwhile anti-apartheid activist and South African politician Helen Suzman’s birth. The occasion was graced by past and current students, as well as Mrs Suzman’s two daughters who had travelled from overseas for the occasion. Mrs Suzman matriculated at Holy Family College (then known as Parktown Convent) in 1933.

Francie Jowell, her eldest daughter spoke about the role that the school had played in her mother’s life. Grade 11 pupils debated the role youth play in democracy and fellow anti-apartheid activist and politician Mr Mosioua “Terror” Lekota also gave a speech.

Indeed, Mrs Suzman must have been beaming with a big smile in heaven witnessing this honorary event dedicated to her. She must have done the same this past Saturday too. The reason is that her former school hosted a stage production honouring the memory of a very good friend of hers, and indeed the most well-known of her fellow anti-apartheid activist peers.

Photo: Holy Family College

Holy Family College (HFC) hosted a staging of ROLIHLAHLA, a theatrical production in honour of Nelson and Winnie Mandela. The theatrical production was the school`s contribution to this year`s national celebrations of Mandela Day, celebrated each year on Mandela`s birthday. Parents, teachers as well as other visitors came to watch the drama presentation, staged three times on the day. The production was also meant to be a showcase of the acting talent of learners to parents, alumni and the broader HFC community.

Holy Family College (HFC) has a strong background in the arts, especially in music and acting. Amongst its alumni are pioneer actress Shelagh Holliday, who upon matriculating at the school received training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London (UK), before returning to South Africa and launching her trail-blazing and versatile acting career in theatre, television and radio acting between 1960 until 1996.

Another notable former student in the world of the arts is renowned film director Mosese Semenya, son of eminent South African folk musicians Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbuli. Television actor Aubrey Mandlenkosi Moyo, as well as the daughter of famous South African actor and musician Zola 7 (real name Zola Dlamini) attended the school.

Commenting on the well-produced play, participants Thato Mokoena and Batseba Morwane expressed their gratitude for having been a part of the production. “I played the marimbas. My experience of being in the drama production was quite enjoyable. It was fun because I got to perform and watch each performance which I found very interesting. The set-up and the stories used in the production were moving to me.

Photo: Holy Family College

Mr Andrews was patient and helped us through all the practices. He tried his best to make the production beautiful and presentable, and it truly showed. I especially enjoyed the parents’ support during the whole production. They were such an amazing audience and stopped me from being nervous during the times I performed. I am truly grateful for the amazing support given,” Morwane said.

“I was in the production of ROLIHLAHLA, A Tribute to Nelson and Winnie Mandela. I participated in marimbas and the choir. My experience of the production was good and entertaining. It was exhilarating to perform in front of the audience because it really gave me an adrenaline rush. To see the faces of my fellow learners when they were performing with smiles on their faces really showed me how they enjoyed themselves and did their best. This displayed how much potential and talent we have as HFC students. The production gave u the opportunity to experience different sides of people that we didn’t even know of, such as the beautiful voices of the girls who sang solos and all dancers. In such a short time we all managed to put together a great play and I hope the parents and everyone who came to watch enjoyed and hope to see a bigger audience in next year’s production. The support from the parents really makes us feel like we can do what we set our minds on doing,” Mokoena said.

For school headmaster Mr Franc Sobreira, the theatre production was a much-welcomed divergence from the usual activities that the school undertakes for Nelson Mandela Day. “The school usually organises things like soup kitchens prepared by the students and staff to feed the less fortunate on each Nelson Mandela Day.

The students came up with the idea of a play to mark this year`s celebration. From the very beginning, they drove the process, and the staff only provided support to their ideas. Over time the production was finalised, and we think that it`s a worthy celebration of Madiba, and indeed an outstanding showcase of the student`s acting and theatrical production talents,” he told The Southern Cross.

Hopefully, the AFDA (African Film, Drama & Art) University advert prominently displayed on a wall in the school is motivation enough for the current students interested in pursuing a career in the arts to use the opportunities provided by the school to follow past students, and reach for their dreams. This is what Nelson and Winnie Mandela, and indeed Helen Suzman would want them to do.