UFS arts and culture stages have been vibrating with action, with the popular Stagedoor making a return after a two-year hiatus following the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds of first-year students got a taste of the UFS arts scene, with the 2022 Stagedoor competition finals held at the Kopanong Auditorium on the University of the Free State Bloemfontein Campus on 9 April.

 “There was a lot of uncertainty around whether to bring back the competition, given the fact that the last time it took place was in 2020. However, the eagerness and anticipation of students is what motivated us to bring it back, and I think it was also a good way to welcome everyone back to the campus culture that we all know,” said Hlumelo Xaba, who is the Student Representative Council member responsible for the Arts and Culture portfolio on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus. The final showdown, consisting of eight finalists – including Khayalami, Veritas, Harmony, and Wag ‘n Bietjie – was well attended by the UFS community, as the venue was packed to the brim with students who wanted to support their respective residences.

Although the experience may have been new to many of the students who attended, it was also a new experience for the Residence Culture members (RCs) who assisted in planning and coordinating the whole event. “This year’s group of RCs consists of people who were first-year students in 2020, which means that they have never had the experience of being involved in the planning of Stagedoor,” Xaba indicated. 

The theme of this year’s final was ‘Into the Jungle’, and the finalists were given the freedom to decide how they would interpret the theme. Consequently, there were some instances where the actual university setting was a metaphor for a jungle, referring to how difficult it can get at times. However, in some instances the productions were centred around a jungle-like atmosphere. Furthermore, in the varying interpretations of the theme, there was still a need to allude to and address some of the societal ills faced today. Some of the productions managed to artistically call out sexual assault and the dangers of alcohol abuse within the university context and beyond. In addition, some of the productions addressed topics such as the intricacies of young love, friendship, and life. 

The overall winners of the competition were Beyers Naude and Harmony, followed by Khayalami and Wag-’n-Bietjie who snatched second place, and in third place were Veritas and Lehakwe residences. There were also other categories put in place to ensure that each production could be judged from multiple points. These included best prescribed song and best drama, which were both snatched by Beyers Naude and Harmony, and the best creativity category was taken by Khayalami and Wag-’n-Bietjie residences. “The event was an overall success, and the turnout was better than we anticipated,” said Xaba.