The Festival, launched in 2010, uses the transformative power of theatre and the works of Shakespeare as a means to unite young people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds across Southern Africa. By combining Arts and Education, the festival aims to promote language, literacy and social skills and facilitate the training and skills development of both educators and learners. The Festival provides the resources and guidance required for participants to prepare and create theatrical performances in an accessible learning environment and has become the foremost youth drama festival in Africa, working with over 9000 youth, 670 educators and 490 schools since its inception.
Hosting regions – SA, RU, Malawi,
Since 2009, SSFSA has showcased 582 Shakespeare plays across South Africa, working with 12 435 learners from 661 schools. It has built the capacity of 926 teachers as drama and performance arts directors, 105 guest and student directors and 95 volunteer directors and facilitators. Over ten years the festival has attracted a combined audience of 29 578 people around the country.
What Our Students Say
As always SSF Team and Crew- an unforgettable experience- THANK from the cast, parents and school for your positivity and energy on our behalf
We had a ball
Kera, thank you for you and your team’s hard work towards a day of an ordinary learner… you make it extra ordinary memorable. Long live SSF…
Thank you Kseniya, Keraleigh, Blythe, Cindy, Adam and the rest of the SSFSA team for hosting us again. Our children enjoyed every aspect of being at the theatre including meeting Mrs. Marshall and her children from Queens Park
I would like to extend my heartfelt thank you for the amazing opportunity you give our learners. I see kids who are strangers become united, I see them learn that you can be dependent, but independent at the same time. They have grown so much and have gained confidence and self-discipline.
May the show continue to grow every year and may the organisers that work non- stop be ever blessed. All of the best with your final round in Cape Town. Have an amazing day to all.
Heather, we appreciate everything you did for us, especially for the children. Thank you for the whole theater staff and school staff and parents want to see the video.
The Aim higher production team want to thank you for allowing us to participate on the festival thank you very much. The cast had experienced much and they had fun.
Thank you for this beautiful experience! And for bravely flying the festival flag during a pandemic and taking care of all of it with such patience and grace. Love you all and long may this festival last Thank you so much for this AMAZING experience. This was my first time participating and honestly it’s been the best time ever I’ve loved every minute of it and especially having only just matriculated it was the most spectacular event to kick off my post high school life.
Thanks for everything, was great to experience live theatre and the kids really enjoyed being out.
Thank you very much for the amazing experience. The kids had lots of fun.
Good morning.. My name is Thandile, one of Leiden high’s children.. Yes I participate in Shakespeare… I would like to take this moment and thank you so very much for your great work that u have done for us not the children that do drama but the school in general.. And if it wasn’t for Shakespeare and me putting my focus on it I would have been somewhere doing wrong out there.. But you came and saved children’s lives .thank you..you saved me from a lot of things because of Shakespeare.. Thank u so much.. so grateful ….I have no more words to say but thank u so so much god bless u with many more years to come so that u can keep this awesome thing running up until 40yrs to come.. thank Miss kseniya..thank u
