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26 April 2023 | Story Nonkululeko Nxumalo | Photo Supplied
Drama graduates
Theatre maestros Boitumelo Riet and Lelethu Tshangela. The two friends received their Bachelor of Arts Honours (Drama and Theatre Arts) degrees during the UFS April graduation ceremony.

Among the many exceptional students who received their qualifications during the University of the Free State’s (UFS) April 2023 graduation ceremonies, are theatre maestros Boitumelo Riet and Lelethu Tshangela. The two friends graduated with Bachelor of Arts Honours (Drama and Theatre Arts) degrees during the Faculty of the Humanities graduation ceremony on 22 April 2023. Overcoming considerable struggles, these two graduates’ remarkable talent and hard work have led them to become recognised and acclaimed theatre artists.


During their studies, Riet and Tshangela worked together on a production called Ziyakhala ke Manje, which won the Best New Young Artist Award at the Vrystaat Arts Festival.
 
"Winning the award was unbelievable, considering that rehearsals and scheduling didn't go as planned. We had to start afresh and get the play ready in two weeks," Tshangela said. 

"It was a beautiful surprise. The award felt like a deep acknowledgment, respect, and celebration of the entire cast's artistic investment," Riet added.

Riet and Tshangela were also part of the production team that toured with the Standard Bank Bronze Ovation award-winning SwaRingana to the National Arts Festival. Their work, developed as part of the coursework in the Theatre-Making programme, has been recognised nationally, and has been invited to perform on professional platforms.

Additionally, Riet shared the stage with fellow graduates in The Suit, a contemporary theatre adaptation of Can Themba’s iconic short story, which won the Fresh Vrynge Award at the Vrystaat Arts Festival in 2022.

Tshangela helmed Ukhetho, which won top honours at the Kovsies Multilingual Mokete, and was selected as one of the debut productions at the newly formed Mthonyama Arts Festival in the Eastern Cape. Both artists were recognised by the Department of Drama and Theatre Arts as the Best Theatre Making students at the end of their undergraduate studies.

Passion for performing

According to Riet, she inherited her artistic inclination from her mother. Together they engaged in various playful activities such as singing, dancing, and storytelling. These activities sparked her love for entertaining from a young age, and she always knew that she wanted a career that would allow her to express herself in impactful ways and positively influence her community.

For Tshangela, her passion for performing also started at a young age. She enjoyed singing, but despite initially not considering drama as a career, receiving an acceptance letter from the UFS to study Drama and Theatre Arts reminded her of the joy she had felt during a school play. “It felt natural. It was like I could do this every day, portraying different people and telling stories. That acceptance letter became a sign of my destiny,” she highlighted.

Both suffered the loss of a parent during this time and faced considerable financial challenges due to limited funding. However, these resilient women persevered, excelling, and coming into their own as phenomenal and now award-winning theatre artists and academics.

Plans for the future

Looking ahead, Riet plans to continue creating radical and relevant theatre, writing poetry, and performing on notable stages. Additionally, she aspires to establish a storytelling centre.

“I’m planning to direct, produce, and perform more professional theatre productions. I’m also looking to travel overseas, further my studies to PHD level, but most of all, I plan to open a theatre company where I can introduce the craft to my hometown in the Eastern Cape,” Tshangela said.


News Archive

Exciting open day and Albert Einstein program at Boyden Observatory
2005-05-06

National Science Week, which will be held from 7-14 May 2005, is an annual country-wide celebration of science, led by the Department of Science and Technology.  The department selected a proposal by the Boyden Science Centre to coordinate a week of activities in the Bloemfontein area as one of the many projects in the country.

The project for Bloemfontein and surrounding areas will be delivered though a collaboration between the National Museum in Bloemfontein and the University of the Free State (UFS), including the Research Institute for Education Planning, the Department of Physics and other departments in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

The purpose of National Science Week is:

to create awareness of the important role that science play in people’s daily lives;
to encourage our youth to consider studying and improving their performance in mathematics and science; and
to attract more of our youth into science, engineering and technology (SET) careers.

 

World Year of Physics and Albert Einstein Program at Boyden Observatory

The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) declared the year 2005 as the World Year of Physics (WYP). In recognition of this declaration, the great contribution of Physics to the development of technology, and its importance in our everyday lives will be featured strongly during the National Science Week 2005.

On Saturday 7 May 2005 there will be a public programme at Boyden Observatory from 15:30 as a contribution to the World Year of Physics. The programme will be presented in collaboration with the Bloemfontein branch of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa and will include short presentations on astronomy, space exploration and the sun.

The main presentation will be at 19:00 the evening on the life and work of Albert Einstein. The programme will also include observing sessions through telescopes of objects like the sun, Jupiter and Saturn. There will also be an exhibit on Albert Einstein. Attendance is free but booking is required.  For bookings, phone 051-4012561.

Public lecture programme:

Next week the following exciting public lectures will be presented as part of the Science Week activities:

Monday 9 May 2005 

National Museum:

A discussion on Apocalypse Then: the greatest mass extinction of all time.  The lecture will be presented by Dr Jennifer Botha, Paleontologist at the National Museum.
Bookings: 051-4479609 (entrance is free).

UFS campus:

All lectures at Kine 2, Medical Faculty, UFS campus. Follow directions from the DF Malherbe Road entrance.
Bookings: 051-4012561 (entrance is free).

Tuesday 10 May 2005:

A discussion on the Tsunami disaster of 26 December 2004 at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).

Wednesday 11 May 2005:

A discussion on Is there life out there? at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).

Friday 13 May 2005:

A discussion on Hunting Black Holes at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).  The lecture will be presented by Dr Phil Charles, Director: South African Astronomical Observatory.

Science awareness day at the National museum

The science week will be concluded on Saturday 14 May 2005 with a special Science Awareness Day at the National Museum, Aliwal Street, Bloemfontein. 

The excellent exhibits at the museum will be supplemented with activities, career information and video shows. The duration of the programme will be from 10:00-16:00.  For enquiries, please call 051-4479609.

 

Issued by:  Lacea Loader
   Media Representative
   Tel:  (051) 401-2584
   Cell:  083 645 2454
   E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

6 May 2005
 

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