The 15th annual Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa (SSFSA) returns to the District Six Homecoming Centre from 5–31 May 2025, featuring 48 drama groups in dynamic, abridged renditions of Shakespeare’s plays. As Africa’s largest youth drama festival, SSFSA has worked with over 15,000 learners and 1,000 teachers since 2009. This year welcomes School 1306 Moscow, a UNESCO-associated, International Baccalaureate school based in the southwest of the city. The school is bringing a cast of 9 Russian students directed by English actor Jonathan Salway and with original music by Andrey Borisov.


SSFSA remains an inclusive, vibrant celebration of theatre, literacy, and creativity. More than theatre, SSFSA fosters literacy, self-expression, and inclusivity, welcoming blind, deaf, and physically challenged performers. With translated scripts and training for teachers and learners, the festival remains a dynamic platform where diverse voices bring Shakespeare to life!