(Pic: Dr Casius Lubisi, Linda Bukhosini and Faca Kulu)Learning-aid programme for school audiences at Playhouse.
Coming to terms with complex matric literary setworks can be a challenge for many matric learners. The Playhouse Company’s education and development programme, which plays to thousands of young people every year, is geared to take help facilitate this learning process by presenting carefully prepared staged adaptations of setworks prescribed by the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department.
The Playhouse Company’s 2009 in-house schools season runs in The Playhouse Opera from May 25 to 29. This learning-aid programme will then be presented on The Playhouse Transnet Mobile Stage, touring to schools in some parts of KZN between 2 and June 11.
The programme will feature a new stage adaptation of PB Maphumulo’s isiZulu drama, Kudela Owaziyo, a prescribed set work for KZN matric learners this year.
“Our new stage adaptation of Kudela Owaziyo by Faca Kulu is designed especially to create an edutainment experience for school audiences,” says Linda Bukhosini, Playhouse Company CEO and Artistic Director. “This is in line with our policy of introducing an element of fun into its programmes for young audiences, while facilitating their learning process in coming to grips with literary setworks.”
Last year the Playhouse Company’s schools season productions toured throughout KwaZulu-Natal, performing in all 11 municipal districts of the province, playing to more than 75,000 learners from more than 360 schools.
“We greatly value our partnership with The Playhouse Company,” said Dr Casius Lubisi, Superintendent General of KZN Department of Education. “One of the biggest challenges faced by many of our learners is that of visualising the full picture of the literary setworks they study in the classroom situation. This can militate against their achieving good marks. By seeing stage adaptations of their setworks, they are able to come to grips more thoroughly with these books. For many pupils, the Playhouse Company’s touring schools productions represent their first ever encounters with live theatre performances. In this sense, too, these productions fulfil a valuable role which can only encourage the development of future audiences for the arts industry.”
The story of Kudela Owaziyo patterns events in a dream world with their actual interpretation. It covers the topics of abuse, xenophobia, bribery and betrayal, drawing from biblical and cultural beliefs. While celebrating the book’s rich isiZulu language content, some issues contained in the original text have not been included in the new stage adaptation, but will be open for discussion with pupils after the show.
Directed by Thabo Mnguni, the cast includes Bongani Mbatha, Sandile Menze, Phumelephi Mthombeni, Thami Sikhosana, Zinhle Manyathi , Makhulu Hlophe, Joy Mbewana and Angel ‘Dateh’ Zondo.
For more information regarding The Playhouse Company’s production of Kudela Owaziyo, or to secure a booking for your school during its tour between June 2 and 11, contact the Drama Co-ordinator, Pascar Dube, on 031 369 9464 or email drama@playhousecompany.com
Bookings for schools in the Ethekwini region to attend performances at The Playhouse between May 25 and 29 must be made with the Playhouse Company’s Marketing Manager, Andre-B van Wyk, on 031 369 9407 or email marketingmanager@playhousecompany.com.
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