A fascinating and amusing look at the universe for young
people. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Space Rocks is one
of four new South African works presented by the National Arts Festival and Drama
for Life which appeared on this year’s Main programme in Grahamstown.
Brother and sister JoJo and Jinks are about to head into
space. As the show opens, we see them putting together their home-made
spaceship created from a variety of props. They are out to collect magical
space rock which JoJo, who is a space fundi, hopes will make his robot BingBing
live. BingBing is a delightful structure with forks as arms and tea strainers
as eyes
However, JoJo is beginning to get cold feet but Jinks, who
has had an argument with their mum, is determined to go ahead.
Thus begins a fun journey which sees them being chased
through the solar system by Vortex and Void, and coming into contact with the
Moon, Saturn, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter.
Alongside Stella Dlangalala and Hamish Neil who play Jinks
and JoJo, Diana Penman, Sthe Khali, Lehlohonolo Dube and Thapelo Mohapi Oora
Motsikoe take on the roles of the various planets. Much fun was had with the
explosive Jupiter which has been labelled The Gas Giant!
Written by Tamara Schul6z and directed by Craig Morris, the production
is aimed at audiences between the ages of four to eight and explores how
children become independent through play. It certainly provides a fascinating
and amusing look at the universe for young people. I wasn’t able to stay for
the Q & A afterwards but there were many eager faces waiting in the
amphitheatre outside as I left. – Caroline Smart
(To link direct to the
NAF site click on the large banner that runs across the top of this blog)
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