Unilever Young Performers is an annual project undertaken by Unilever SA to help the growth and nurture of arts and culture within South African youth. Expert professionals are involved in selecting and training talented youth from high school level to perform in public theatre. Schools are also encouraged to attend these performances in order to develop a culture of appreciation for theatre amongst the youth as well as raise funds through the purchasing of tickets for the performance.

Productions done thus far include Grease and Oliver!, which played to great revues.

Profits made from these productions will be channelled back into the community through selected arts and culture developmental projects. These projects need to be in line with certain criteria decided by the Unilever Young Performers Board.

The chosen projects need to have transparency in governance and financial recording. Projects should be well established with proven track record and reach a large percentage of the community. There should be proven benefits on uplifting disadvantaged communities while developing an appreciation for performing arts. Projects should develop talented individuals in areas of directing, choreography, script writing, PR, etc. while encouraging these individuals to share this skill with the community through educational opportunities.

Interested candidates should motivate in writing how their project will benefit or contribute to the aims of the Young Performers initiative, i.e. growing Arts & culture in South Africa.

Applications should be submitted to Desiree Phillips via post to Unilever South Africa - Desiree Phillips, 15 Nollsworth Crescent, La Lucia Office Estate, La Lucia, Durban, 4051 or e-mail: Desiree.Phillips@Unilever.com.

Applications close April 18 2005. For further information contact Roland Stansell on 031 570 3910.