The Playhouse Company, an agency of the
Department of Arts and Culture, is hosting its 2018 Community Arts Festival
(CAF) in Durban’s Playhouse Loft Theatre. This runs between October 5 and 22,
2018. Admission is free to all CAF events.
“Community engagement and skills sharing
are key elements in the execution of our annual arts programme at the Playhouse
Company,” says Linda Bukhosini, the Company’s Chief Executive and Artistic
Director. “We are proud to have grown this year’s Community Arts Festival
significantly since staging last year’s festival. Following the success of the
latter event, we are offering a wider spectrum of performance opportunities on
our stages this year. Education and networking remain important factors in The
Playhouse Company’s CAF initiative. In this regard CAF’s programme includes
workshops by noted industry experts. Musa Hlatshwayo, this year’s Standard Bank
Young Artist of the Year for Dance, will facilitate a dance administration
workshop. Edmund Mhlongo, an eThekwini Living Legend, will share his experience
through a directing workshop. Jerry Pooe, who is also the festival curator,
will facilitate a masterclass. We look forward to welcoming many theatre goers
to this year’s festival.”
Productions to be showcased on CAF’s roster
include:
Child
of a Child: (October 5 at 14h00)
(pictured)
This powerful allegorical tale, seen
through the journey of Boy Nkathazo to find his true identity, upholds the
traditional values of the spirit of Ubuntu, that unifying identity shared by
African people, now in danger of being lost.
Sins
of the Elder: (October 5 at 16h00)
Umbali Shozi, an orphan entrusted into the
care of her stepmother, has to endure the cruel discrimination and
ill-treatment meted out against her in this moving, community-based story, an
Ithuba Labasha project.
Shero: (October 5 at 19h00)
In this Amanguni Productions coming of age
drama, Zandile and Mthoko, two youthful lovebirds, pursue dancing careers while
facing external challenges that might interfere with their attaining success.
Serve
‘n Nuts: (October 6 at 14h00)
(pictured)
Saranya Devan’s drama delves into the
tribulations of identity crisis, pulling off the masks that hide Muniamma, the
Indian, Nkosinathi, the Zulu, and Yvonne, the in-between persona.
Sgebengu
Sami: (October 6 at 16h00)
This Emuhle All Artist production focuses
on an ex-convict who has just come out of correctional services. Lying in wait
for him from home are his previous deeds – his bygones.
Double
You: (October 6 at 19h00);
(pictured)
This drama directed by Amanda Forbay probes
the troubled state of affairs that beset global society at large, suggesting we
interrogate the forces and ethics that govern humanity through the running of
democracies the world over.
Khuluma
Mngoma: (October 12 at 14h00)
This Edgy Drama Mix five-hander shows how
different the live we live now is, compared to the vision our fallen heroes
fought for, suggesting we have mistaken freedom for slavery and shame.
Inzalabantu: (October 12 at 16h00);
A powerful and informative story told
through narration, dance, and music, and focusing on a poor rural woman who is
forced at an early age into an arranged marriage. Despite the hardships of
unemployment, of falling pregnant, and losing both child and husband, she still
strives to become a successful and respected woman in the village.
To Be
Like The Rock: (October 12 at 19h00);
Co-written and workshopped by Neil Coppen
with Umsindo Theatre Projects, this is a tale of five girls working in a
quarry, breaking bricks. Taken from their homes into human trafficking, their
different stories the same objective in common.
The
Farm Workers: (October 13 at 10h00)
Produced by Mzansi Arts Development, this
drama addresses issues of racism which emanate from unfavourable working
conditions for farm workers.
Draupadi
– The Fire born Princess: (October 13 at 14h00);
This Bhakti Theatre musical production
focuses on the Princess Draupadi, an historic figure derived from India’s
ancient epic, The Mahabharata. Born from fire, she was the most beautiful woman
of her era, prophesied to be the destruction of billions of warriors. An
archery challenge was set so that a warrior might win her hand in marriage.
Umagejageja: (October 13 at 16h00)
This Umlazi Acting Lab production depicts
four men trapped by their past. They are introduced to Umagejageja, a mythical
creature who is an elite healer and spiritual revivalist – without noticing
that he is a spirit that lives within them all.
All
Gone: (October 13 at 19h00)
This morality tale, devised as a one-man
performance using minimal props, expounds the necessity of managing one’s
material resources wisely.
Year
of 2042 After The Last World War: (October 19 at
14h00)
The Illuminati rule an apocalyptic universe
in which Christianity is banned, following the last word war, which was incited
by religion.
Last
Supper: (October 19 at 16h00);
In this gripping drama from 3 KZN Talents,
Emily and her daughter Lisa stand up against the brutal domestic abuse they
have long endured at the hands of Nelson, Emily’s sadist of a husband.
Nomaliso
The Brave: (October 19 at 19h00);
Nomaliso, a brave young woman, is
prohibited by the traditional custom known as ‘Ukhuthwala Intombi’ from
marrying the man she loves. Her parents seek to force her into an arranged
marriage so they can gain money. Directed by Bonginkosi Shangase, this tale,
told through music, drama and dance, encourages women to stand up for their
rights.
Indoda
Indoda: (October 20 at 10h00)
In this apartheid retrospective, Sanele
Maphumulo’s moving dance drama looks at the life of a young man who has been
raised by his grandmother, before he sets out for the big city to find his own
identity by finding his father, an MK soldier absent throughout his childhood.
Umsaka: (October 20 at 16h00)
Siwela Sonke’s dance piece unravels a
complicated plot in which the younger generation of a family seek to discover
the secrets that were hidden by their fathers.
Other events are:
Script Writing Workshop (12 October at
12h00)
Directing Workshop (October 13 at 12h00)
Administration Master Class (October 19 at
11h00)
Dance Administration Workshop (October 20 at
12h00)
Indibano Music Concert (October 20 at
17h15)
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