(Pic: Durban actress Josette Eales)Josette Eales and Thato Moraka are the 2010 Brett Goldin Bursary award winners.
Four years after the brutal murder of Brett Goldin, his memory was once again honoured when Josette Eales (26) and Thato Moraka (25) were announced the latest winners of the Brett Goldin Bursary for 2010.
The bursary was set up immediately after the young actor and his friend, fashion designer Richard Bloom (both 28) were brutally murdered over the Easter weekend on April 16, four years ago, just days before he was due to leave for Stratford-upon-Avon. Goldin was due to perform the role of Guildenstern in the Baxter’s production of Hamlet, directed by Janet Suzman, which launched the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company’s Complete Works Festival. The double murder sent shockwaves throughout South Africa and England.
The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Actors Centre and the Baxter Theatre Centre established the bursary, which was kick-started by donations from respected South African-born actors Sir Antony Sher and Honorary RSC Associate Janet Suzman, to give other young actors the opportunity which Brett was denied, and to honour his memory in an appropriate manner.
The bursary is designed to enhance and fine-tune actors who are committed to the need and desire to expand their knowledge and acting ability of Shakespeare. Furthermore, it is essential that they are willing, on their return, to use the skills gained to enthuse and encourage others, towards a love and understanding of Shakespeare. Winners are chosen according to their talent for Shakespeare performance, passion, commitment and overall suitability.
Eales and Moraka will be based at the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of the world’s most famous playwright, from June 18 to July 19. The work programme will include activities such as attending warm-ups, solo and company voice and verse classes, any Artist Development workshops rehearsals and technical rehearsals, as well as sessions with directors and assistant directors and the opportunity to attend Education Department workshops. The successful candidates will be based in the Artist Development Department and it is hoped that much of the learning experience will come from observation, discussion with personnel working in production, press and casting departments and through contact with other actors, directors and members of the RSC.
The Brett Goldin Bursary is held every two years alternating between Johannesburg and Cape Town, and two winners are selected. So the next calling will take place in Cape Town in 2012. For information on how to support the Brett Goldin Bursary Fund visit www.baxter.co.za under the heading “Fundraising”.
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