CRAWL

Hexagon production offers brilliant sound-scapes and unusual dance moves. (Review by Sifiso Sikhakhane)

It is fascinating to see young aspiring artists work hand in hand to tell their personal experiences through the art language, such as the physical theatre piece, Crawl, which is currently showing at the National Arts Festival.

This Hexagon Theatre production from Pietermaritzburg, along with UKZN (PMB) drama studies department, examines aspects of our lives as systems of existence. Using the narrative of personal stories, Crawl puts forward the painful struggles faced by the individuals as they seek to exist freely in their identities, roles, circumstances, expectations and environment.

Without a doubt, Crawl contains a lot of potential with its brilliant sound-scapes and unusual dance moves by the young dancers Alex Patrick, Katie Essom, Kwanele Thusi, Sizwe Hlophe and Bonwa Mbontsi (last year’s top 40 finalist for the television dance series So you think you can dance).

However, I believe directors Mandisa Haarhoff and Mlondolozi Zondi could have improved in terms of strengthening the content of the piece. Their aim, which was to invite the audience to ask, search, remember and understand the complicated notion of religion, was not achieved at this stage. Apart from that, it was an interesting piece to watch.

Crawl has one more performance at the festival - tomorrow (July 9) at 21h30 in the Rehearsal Room. – Sifiso Sikhakhane