“Bring your A-game — this is a winner-takes-all competition!”
After a jampacked first round, The Dramatic Society of East London (Dramsoc) is gearing up for the semifinals of the Eastern Cape Has Talent competition this weekend at the Alexander Playhouse.
Only 12 will be taken through to the grand finale at the Guild Theatre in March.
Singers, actors, dancers and poets — whether performing solo or in a group — will take to the stage in hopes of impressing a rigorous panel of judges and securing the R10,000 cash prize.
Advocate Sally Collett, a committee member of Dramsoc and director of Eastern Cape Has Talent, said the competition provided a vital platform for Eastern Cape performers.
“The talent this year is intense,” Collett said.
“The judges kept saying: ‘We are looking for a R10,000 act, so bring your A-game.’
“There are no other prizes — this is a winner-takes-all.
“It’s different from other competitions because once contestants have performed, they stand on stage and receive feedback immediately and publicly.”
The competition’s first audition round, held on January 25 and 26, had more than 60 acts competing, and 22 will go head-to-head this weekend.
Last year's winner, 16-year-old trumpeter Chelsea Gurure, who goes by “Trumpet Kid”, will also be a guest judge this year and do a special performance at the finals.
Though unavailable for comment because she was attending school, videos of her speaking about the experience were shared on the Eastern Cape Has Talent social media.
Gurure said: “The journey right from the beginning of the show, from the preliminary round all the way to the final, has been one of the best experiences I have ever been on.
“I’m not saying it was easy at all. I did face struggles but in the end, I made it.”
Recalling the moment she heard her name called as the winner, she said: “I was speechless.
“I felt a sense of euphoria, I was extremely happy.
“I did not just leave as a winner, I left as a better performer, a better musician with more experience.
“I made more friends. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity.”
On being a judge this year, she said: “I am really excited for this.
“I have never been a judge, so it’s something really cool for me. I can’t wait to see all the talent that comes through.”
The judging process is intense. Each round has a different panel of judges, who are not publicly shared to ease the nerves of upcoming performers.
Collett said: “It’s a different panel every time, so we have six more judges attending the semifinals, and the scoring criteria are more intense.
“They will be choosing the 12 finalists to go through to the next round.”
The criteria include entertainment value, technique, quality of the act and audience response.
Audiences are included in the voting process at certain points.
“By the time you have a winner you have been through 18 judges, you have been through two sets of audience votes, you have been through a lot of scores — the process is intense,” Collett said.
“The contestants are told from the outset that their score in each round and their votes from the audience will all go together if they are a finalist.”
Those who make it through this weekend will be given a month to work on a new act and will be assigned mentors to help them shape their performance.
“This year our finals are at the Guild Theatre ... which is perfect as last year we didn’t have enough space for everyone who would have liked to attend,” Collett said.
Umtiza Arts Festival planning committee member Papama Mnqandi was thrilled with the ongoing collaboration between the Eastern Cape Has Talent and Umtiza.
He was a judge and emcee last year and will be involved in this year’s proceedings.
Mnqandi said: “[Eastern Cape Has Talent] gives us a chance to select artists who have been tested through a fair process and open call.
“We are thrilled that Umtiza and the Guild Theatre have opened their arms to this important platform.
“Last year we hosted [Eastern Cape Has Talent] performers at the launch of the Umtiza as well as during the market day at the Springbok farm stall at the end of the festival.
“We will be looking at these contestants, as well as those who respond to our BCMM artists’ call to determine the mix and spread across the programme that will commence on May 22.”
Daily Dispatch
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