Shakespeare Schools Festival

04/08/2026

Another masterpiece in motion!

The momentum is building up in Durban as Rowin Munsamy leads yet another incredible, transformative workshop ahead of this year’s Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa (SSFSA) in September! 

From unlocking stage presence to breathing new life into timeless text, our young actors are putting in the work and the magic is real.

Tickets for the September festival will be available soon on Webtickets! Keep your eyes peeled and notifications on so you don’t miss out on celebrating local youth theatre.

TheatreWorkshop Webtickets

31/07/2026

The Shakespeare Schools Festival cast workshop series has begun in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa!

Over the coming weeks, learners from across the province will take part in a series of workshops led by the incredible Dr Rowin Munsamy, developing their performance skills, deepening their understanding of Shakespeare’s text, and growing in confidence as they prepare for this year’s festival.

These workshops are an important part of each school’s festival journey, creating space for collaboration, creativity, and the joy of discovering what is possible together.

We can’t wait to see these young performers bring their productions to life on stage later this season.

DramaInEducation YouthTheatre Shakespeare

09/07/2026

CELEBRATING SSF MALAWI!

The curtains may have come down, but we are still buzzing with excitement! Huge congratulations to the Shakespeare Schools Festival Malawi team on wrapping up another absolutely incredible festival year!

Putting together a festival takes immense dedication, and we want to give a massive shout-out to Richard L Hewitt and his phenomenal team for their vision, hard work, and passion in making this year’s festival possible.

To all the brilliant learners who took to the stage with courage and creativity, and the dedicated teachers who guided them every step of the way, we see you, and we are incredibly proud of you! You brought Shakespeare’s stories to life in ways that inspire us all.

Our African SSF community continues to grow and shine, and we couldn’t be prouder to stand alongside our Malawi family.

Here’s to many more years of magic, growth, and storytelling!
YouthInTheatre ShakespeareInAfrica

05/07/2026

WE WON!

We are incredibly honoured to share that the Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa has walked away with the Innovation in Theatre Award at the Cape Town Theatre Awards

Because our team was split across the country and on the ground today, we wanted to share the full acceptance message from both our CEO and our Managing Director;

A Note from our CEO Filinova Kseniya:
"I am deeply sorry that I cannot be with you in person to receive this incredible honour. For the panel of judges to recognise the SSFSA with this Innovation in Theatre Award means more than words can express.
At SSFSA, we believe true innovation lies in human transformation. It is about taking 400-year-old texts and using them as a powerful mirror for the lived realities, joys, and struggles of South African youth today.

This award belongs entirely to two groups of people. First, to my phenomenal team on the ground. You work tirelessly behind the scenes, turning logistics into magic, and creating safe, brave spaces where children can thrive. Most of all, I want to dedicate this award to the thousands of talented young people and the selfless teachers across our country. You breathe life into the theatre, and you give us hope for the future.
Thank you for recognising that innovation isn’t just about inventing the future; it’s about reimagining our shared humanity through the power of theatre and Shakespeare.”

From Blythe Stuart Linger, Managing Director:
"An award like this doesn't happen in a vacuum. It is built on the backs of an extraordinary team who throw their hearts into this work year after year.

A massive personal thank you to our phenomenal Cape Town team members: Nkosinathi Sangweni Waka Mtshali, , Nickus Venter, and Chadley Jayden Fortune. And because this is a national effort, a huge thank you to our Joburg coordinator, Jade Beeby; our Durban coordinator, Rowin Munsamy; and our George festival coordinator, Heather Stead. A huge thank you to our PR specialist Allison Foat DIVA PR.

The reality of the arts in South Africa is that, more often than not, these individuals are working for little to no money, completely dependent on the unpredictable tides of funding. Yet, they show up every single day. Without their fierce dedication and pure passion, the work we do simply would not exist.

Right now, we are living in a time where media, race, religion, greed, the dirty game of politics and power have our communities in a chokehold. Which is exactly why the arts are needed now more than ever. Theatre is where we dismantle those divisions and remember how to heal.

To all the artists across South Africa: thank you for continuing to tell our stories, for showing up despite the funding climate, and for doing your part to keep this industry alive. This award is a testament to all of us."

Thank you to the Cape Town Theatre Awards, our partners, our funders, and everyone who continues to believe in the magic of young spaces.

A huge thanks to our sponsors and funders who make the work we do possible. Fondation BNP Paribas Shakespeare ZA -StephanNussbaumFoundation

02/07/2026

Another fantastic, info-packed Teacher-Director Masterclass is officially in the books. Our passionate team, led by the brilliant Heather Stead , spent a wonderful day connecting with educators at the Market Community Theatre George

Thank you to every teacher who joined us to sharpen their skills, share their passion, and bring the magic of the stage back to their classrooms. The future of school theatre in the Southern Cape is looking exceptionally bright!

26/05/2026

18/05/2026

Lights, camera, Shakespeare.

Catch learners from Curro Somerset West and Kids Theatre Academy LIVE on the Expresso Show tomorrow morning (Tuesday 19 May) at 08:45 as they chat all things Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa.

From bold performances to powerful storytelling, these young performers are bringing the spirit of Shakespeare to life in exciting and unexpected ways.

Come support the incredible schools, teachers and learners taking to the stage this festival season.

Book your tickets now:

The 16th annual Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa (SSFSA) returns, showcasing local primary and high schools, along with youth drama groups, in dynamic abridged performances of Shakespeare’s plays. As Africa’s largest youth drama festival, SSFSA has engaged more than 15,000 learners and ...

11/05/2026