The top six performers battled it out during the finale hosted at the Market Theatre in order to be one of three winners to be awarded a share of scholarships totalling R315,000.
Great strides were made this year because, for the first time, the search went to all nine provinces. The judges were given a great task to assess and select only the best to join a long list of performers to partake in the competition, upping the audition performance item numbers from 225 in 2009 to 776 in 2015. Six finalists were chosen through a country-wide audition process, and then coached by a dedicated team of professionals, before putting their best foot forward in front of an illustrious panel of judges, and - possibly the biggest critics of all - a live audience.
With support from the Arts & Culture Trust; the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO) and Nedbank Arts Affinity, the three winners will have the opportunity to study a performing arts course at an accredited South African tertiary institution of their choice. They will also receive practical support beyond their studies, including representation by one of South Africa's top talent agencies, Talent-ETC Artist Management.
The 2015 panel of judges included: Durban theatre personality Caroline Smart; Manager of Talent-ETC Jennis Williamson; actor and Market Theatre Artistic Director James Ngcobo; University of Johannesburg's Head of Arts & Culture and award-winning playwright Ashraf Johaardien; and professional dancer and choreographer Charlie van Rooyen.
For more information on the Scholarships programme, go to www.act.org.za
