Festival of Excellence in Dramatic Arts 2025
July 2025
St Benedict’s College has cemented its position as a theatrical powerhouse after its production of The Other Side of the House claimed the coveted Best Production award at the Festival of Excellence in Dramatic Arts (FEDA) 2025, alongside five additional major honours in South Africa’s most prestigious high school theatre competition.
Written and directed by student Omolemo Pesha, The Other Side of the House is a psychological thriller that explores themes of grief, isolation, and a mind on the brink, set to the haunting soundtrack of Nina Simone. This powerful production dominated the awards ceremony, securing Best Actor (Ditiro Simelane), Best Supporting Actor (Sikolakhe Manaswe), Best Director (Omolemo Pesha), Best Special Effects (Michael van Esch and Soneesh Govender), Best Stage Crew (Soneesh Govender – stage manager, Bokang Mohau, Ikechukwu Ejike, Warona Moloantoa, Tumelo Maboya, Lutho Manjingolo, Siyabonga Sibeko and Nathan Chakwamba) and the ultimate prize – Best Production of FEDA 2025. The production was selected from an elite field of just five finalists out of 66 competing productions from around 50 schools nationwide.
FEDA, founded in 2004 and held annually at Johannesburg’s prestigious Joburg Theatre, is widely regarded as the crown jewel of South African high school theatre festivals. The competition provides a professional platform for learners to showcase original scripts and published works, adjudicated by respected theatre professionals who serve as gatekeepers to the industry’s future stars.
Commenting on the remarkable feat, St Benedict’s College Head of Drama, Michelle Douglas says, “The atmosphere on finals night was electric. In a jam-packed theatre brimming with excitement, five of the country’s most talented school theatre ensembles faced off in what can only be described as a celebration of youth artistry at its highest level.
It was an evening we will never forget.”
Douglas added to this saying, “This historic achievement represents more than theatrical excellence – it showcases the extraordinary creative vision and artistic maturity of our students. Our boys have proven that culture and the arts are as fundamental to our identity as academic achievement and sporting prowess.”
The triumph follows an equally impressive showing by the school’s second FEDA entry, Tharo, written and directed by matric student Zach Scullard. Theatre professionals Carol Fields and Jacques Da Silva praised Tharo as “intelligent, sophisticated, superbly rehearsed theatre,” with the production earning a nomination for Best Set Design and widespread acclaim for its technical excellence and professional-level stage management. Praise was also heaped on the boys for their masterful stage management, elegant transitions, and the polished unity of a team working at a professional level.
The Other Side of the House earned an unprecedented eight nominations across major categories including Best Script, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Costume, and Best Special Effects before advancing to the finals alongside theatre giants St John’s College and St Stithians.
FEDA has evolved into a fiercely competitive arena where over 60 productions compete annually, creating a launchpad for the next generation of South African theatre. The 2025 festival’s rigorous standards and professional environment make St Benedict’s double success all the more remarkable.
“To have two productions of this calibre emerge from our school in a single year demonstrates the depth of creative talent within our community,” says Douglas. “These young men have raised the bar for school theatre and shown what can be achieved when students are empowered to tell their stories with authenticity and vision.”
The college’s FEDA triumph caps off months of intensive preparation, with Tharo developing throughout 2024 before four weeks of intensive Term 2 rehearsals, while The Other Side of the House underwent its own rigorous creative process under Pesha’s direction.
“Our boys have demonstrated that creativity, discipline, and bold artistic risk-taking are core values that define our school’s character,” concludes Douglas.
The 2025 victory marks a watershed moment for St Benedict’s College, establishing the Johannesburg institution as a major force in South African school theatre and proving that artistic excellence stands alongside academic achievement and sporting success as pillars of the school’s identity.
In recent years, St Benedict’s has featured among the top schools at FEDA, often nominated across multiple categories. The last time St Benedict’s won the Drama festival was in 2007 at RAPS (Repertory Amateur Players Society) for a production called Reverse Inebriation.
For more on St Benedict’s arts and drama – go to Facebook: @stbenedictscollegebedfordview.
The Other Side of the House Nominations:
- Best Script: Omolemo Pesha
- Best Director: Omolemo Pesha
- Best Actor: Ditiro Simelane
- Best Supporting Actor: Sikolakhe Manaswe
- Best Costume: Ditiro and Sikolakhe
- Best Special Effects: Michael van Esch and Soneesh Govender
- Best Set Design: Omolemo Pesha
- Special Award – the Thembisile Baai award for the Best Stage Crew:
- Soneesh Govender – stage manager
- Bokang Mohau
- Ikechukwu Ejike
- Warona Moloantoa
- Tumelo Maboya
- Lutho Manjingolo
- Siyabonga Sibeko
- Nathan Chakwamba
