Mafikeng - Auditions for the annual festival which sends anti-crime messages to the youth in a bid to combat crime in the North West province, will kick off on Thursday.
The Drama Against Crime Festival is expected to attract more than 400 artists.
Director for Dramatists Against Crime, Martin Koboekae, said they would begin auditions for the festival on Thursday in Klerksdorp.
"We have started with the preparations ahead of the festival, starting with the auditions. We are encouraging young people who are interested in doing drama to participate."
At the auditions, Mr Koboekae said, young people would be expected to form groups and produce a 15 minute play piece including anti-crime messages.
The winning group will be put in training for two weeks to prepare them to participate in the main Stop Crime Drama Festival which will take place in 28 March this year.
Mr Koboekae said it was thrilling to see youngsters exploring their talents. "They learn the message that we want to put across to the province and to the nation that crime is a bad thing to do because all it does in the end is hurt people," he said.
He said the festival has already touched many lives in the past and that's why he was inspired to continue with it each year.
The provincial Department of Sports, Arts and Agriculture, which has constributed R400 000 towards hosting the event, said it would continue to support projects such as this which were helping change the lives of young people.'
Departmental spokesperson, Shirley Montsho said: "We are proud to be associated with this project which deals with one of the major problems in South Africa - crime."
She encouraged youngsters to make use of the opportunity this year and make a big change in their own lives.
"We understand that there are those who have talent in arts and have not being exposed to a situation were they can express they talent, this year we will ensure that we create and support those who have the intention to expose such talent," she explained.
Auditions will also resume at Mmabana Taung on 23 January for Dr Ruth Semomotsi District Municipality.
Dr Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality will be held on the 24th January whereas in the Bojanala District municipality it will be held on 25 January at Tlhabane hall.
