Brett Goldin Bursary award winners announced

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, at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg.

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 16 April, 2006, 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.

Off to Stratford-upon-Avon

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.

Eales and Moraka were chosen from seven finalists and a shortlist of 17 actors (out of nearly 80 applicants countrywide) who took part in the two-day audition process at the Market Theatre.

The two successful bursars will be based at to the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of the world's most famous playwright, from 18 June to 19 July.