Dubbed by her mother as ‘little drama queen’, Amé Spangenberg (9), a Grade 3 learner at Stulting Primary School, has always loved being on stage and after a successful acting audition recently, she will soon share her talent with the nation when she appears in a local short film.
Amé’s mother, Chantall Spangenberg, said her daughter started doing ballet at the age of four and loved being on stage during dance festivals.
To work on her acting skills, last year she joined the Creative Arts and Music Academy, where she attends weekly drama lessons.
Chantall said Amé has not had much experience with acting or drama on a large scale, but she has, however, participated in school and local competitions which included recitals, radical public speaking and the South African Championship of Performing Arts.
After a great deal of hard work, earlier this year she also received her provincial title in public speaking after performing at the Afrikaans Language and Culture Association (ATKV).
“Amé has always been our little drama queen,” said Chantall.
To learn more about acting, in October this year, Amé took part in the Speeltoneel acting auditions at Summerwood Primary School in Gqeberha.
The judges were so impressed with her performance that she was offered a bursary to attend an acting course held from November this year to February next year.
According to the Speeltoneel website, Speeltoneel is an opportunity-driven project that offers young and older up-and-coming actors, dancers and singers from the age of six, the opportunity to act, sing and dance in a short film on national television.
Amé was informed by ABS productions, that there was a total of 420 auditions with only six candidates qualifying for a bursary.
Chantall said the acting classes wouldl be online with monthly in-person workshops, with a location yet to be decided.
“Once the course has been completed, Amé will be assigned a role in a South African short film, which will be produced by ABS productions,” said Chantall.
Some of the actors she will work alongside in the short film include Desiré Gardner, Je-ani Swiegelaar, Nobuhle Mahlasela, Germandt Geldenhuys, Viljé Maritz, Izak Davel and Bradley Olivier.
The filming of the short film will take place from April next year to July.
“Amé is very excited about this adventure and opportunity, and she cannot wait to start,” said Chantall.
