Young Visionary: Floyd Soldaat's Independent Production

 

St Peter's College is proud to announce the remarkable achievement of Floyd Soldaat, a Grade 12 drama student, who recently premiered his Shakespeare-inspired production, "Echoes of Chaos”, at the St Peter's College Three Cities Arts Festival. This event marks a significant milestone as Floyd is the first student to independently manage every aspect of production, from casting to the final performance.
"Echoes of Chaos”, a captivating blend of classical themes and modern storytelling, captivated audiences and showcased Floyd's exceptional talent and dedication. The production was further distinguished by the presence of the legendary actor, Sello Maake kaNcube, who honoured us with his attendance and shared an inspiring message with Floyd, commending his creativity and hard work.

This is what Floyd had to say:

“To be or not to be, that is the question.” - Hamlet 

“To do or not to do, that is the question.” - Floyd Soldaat

Creating Echoes of Chaos has been like a marathon runner reaching his first checkpoint—a mix of challenge and triumph. This is my debut play, and I owe much of this journey to St Peter’s College and it’s out-of-this-world drama department. They’ve allowed my passion for drama to flourish by giving students the freedom to create their own works. Passing up this chance would have meant stifling my creative growth. 

My love for Shakespeare runs deep, fuelled by our readings in English class— of Othello—and my experience performing as Macbeth under the guidance of my Drama teacher, Dario Doneda, in our 2023 production. When it came time to craft my own piece, I thought, "What can I do? King Lear? Too old. Othello? Too recent. Hamlet? Too long. An interactive session of Shakespeare’s sonnets? No." Then, it struck me—” why not combine all my favourites?” Thus, Echoes of Chaos was born, a tapestry woven from Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays, built upon the framework of the Hamlet family’s saga. 

This production delves into the desolation of a man, exploring how a brilliant mind can teeter between greatness and ruin. It merges the Moorish elements of Othello, the ambition of Macbeth, and other inspirations, all adapted into a unique narrative. I chose to portray Hamlet because his complexity presents the greatest challenge, pushing me to explore deeper facets of my own identity. 

Also, is acting not a communal art? Echoes of Chaos is entirely student-driven, with no teacher intervention, proving the power of collaboration. My talented cast comprises of my fellow drama classmates; sound design was masterfully handled by my close friend Reitumetse Mafojane; visual design by the gifted Sravya Ghantasala, and film elements by the insightful Sandile Nzimande. I must also recognize Martin Grendele, a brilliant theatre practitioner, who has been an invaluable assistant director and guiding hand in my journey as an actor. 

Adapting, directing, and acting in this production has been a transformative experience. It allowed me to immerse myself in the creative process and bring my vision to life. 

Your eyes seem tired after reading all of this so, in short: My name is Floyd. I like acting, I did something about it. 

Floyd Soldaat

Grade 12, 2024

St Peter's College