MagentaPro invites audiences to the Annual Imbewu Arts Festival which is running at the Stable Theatre until November 15, 2022.
The festival begins at 16h00 Tuesdays to Friday, 11h00 on Saturdays and 10h00 on Sundays at the Stable Theatre, 115 Johannes Nkosi Street Greyville Durban.
The Imbewu Arts Festival is a platform to uplift young and vibrant artists through theatre workshops and mentorship from other young professionals in the arts. It was founded in 2014. The festival caters for young emerging theatre practitioners.
“Imbewu simply means the seed, we see this festival as a platform that explores the potential of the seed (Future generation) of Theatre”, says Nkosingphile Dlamini. “The Festival works to encourage the youth to take further initiative in developing their craft. As young artists we are aware of the ongoing problem of not having enough platforms available to showcase the potential and creativity displayed by new graduates.
“This festival aims to empower and uplift emerging Theatre creatives to create more works and to never be limited creatively.
“This year we have 16 productions from around Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Johannesburg, Zululand and East London (Eastern Cape) We also have a walk-about room featured fashion clothing by Dolly Fashion, visuals and exhibition on board by Sane Seda, books from Denis Hurley Centre, as well as beads ladies displaying their beads.
Behind Black Tax Choreography by Nqubeko “Cue” Ngema.
“Most young black children grow up with big
dreams to being successful but end up working slowly towards achieving those
goals. Reality hits us as we take part of family steps that we are not ready for,
we get into bigger shoes that don’t fit us. We become bread winners while we
haven’t even won. We try to fix things that our forefathers and mothers could
not do, ceremonies that were not done. And that may cause a lot of pressure,
anxiety and depression. Instead of working forward we begin to work backwards.
“Isimanje with choreography
by Steven Chauke. Isiko la manje (ISI’MANJE) is a dance piece that interrogates
cultural Transformation and growth in our society and community. It also deals
with how the segregation of the African society, whether deliberate or as a
result of the socioeconomic and political past has hindered its economic and
social growth and how, in restoring hope and creating a sustainable social and
economic growth, we can empower and develop the youth and women in urban local
areas.
Conflicted with choreography by Mzamo Kunene. Lost in his own identity, not
finding himself within himself, Conflicted. Straggling to connect with his own
true identity due to the words thrown at him by the society. Trying to pull
himself together but sees a broken image of himself, feeling caged in a dark
hole of impossibilities. His inner Child is destroyed, affecting his adulthood.
He is trying to find himself but every time he tries, the broken pieces of his inner
Child splits, making it impossible for him to find himself, leading to anxiety,
depression and mental instability, almost having suicidal thoughts. He tries to
escape from the negativity that he has always been caved in, but the voices of
the broken Child are louder than his thoughts.
Everyone has an inner Child in them and if that inner Child is destroyed, it could destroy the adulthood of a person – emotionally, spiritually and logically. This contribution to the destruction of the inner Child are usually words that were spoken to a person as a Child and that person grows to believe in those words and once those words are fully installed in a person, they live according to those words and they play a huge role in a way that a person views himself. This can be consciously or subconsciously. This work deals with how uneasy it is to copy with mental and emotional illnesses due to lack of support towards what the person wants in life versus the words thrown by the society \ what the society is expecting . A community can make and break a person unaware.
Isigcawu. Directed by Ntobeko Khoza and Mhleli Mchunu and performed by Zebra
kings and queens. Isigcawu is a Theatre production about Mr and Mrs
Mthembu who grew up in a community where they respected their culture, they
share the pictures of their beautiful wedding with their son uMcebo as they
invited different traditional dance groups for a cultural exchange. This story
teaches about different traditional dances that are found in South Africa based
on how they were created and what they were created for, this story is told
through Acting, South African Traditional Dances & Music.
Umhlaba Wobaba Directed by Andile under MOMOA Productions, this is a physical
theatre play about two brothers who believe that the community they live in
does not need development to be a better place because they overheard a
prophecy that was to warn the king and the community about the disadvantages
that development would bring about. As the two brothers grow, they attend a
school that is in the city and by studying in the city they get to experience
life in developed places, meet people from developed communities and experience
the impact of development.
Through seeing how city life is, their belief in the prophecy grows so they feel the need to analyse the prophecy and stop their community from wanting development. They try by all means to convince the community to forget about development. Warning the community about what they tend to lose, should they allow outsiders to bring change in their community?
Jelly Tots Written by Nokwethemba Ngcobo and directed by Ntando Ngcungama.
This production tells a story of gender-based violence. It shows how one can be
sweet as Jelly Tots just to get what they want, It shows how one can be sweet
just to lure young girls into sex.
Ibala Lami Written and directed by Mboneleli. It a story about a young village
girl “Qhawekazi”. She gets a chance of being part of an international
competition in America, having to sacrifice and leave her afflicted grandmother
behind and focus on her desires. Along her journey she faces a brain teaser,
ravishment and being bulled while death visited her family.
Umampinga Written by Xola Mziwakhe and directed by Ayanda Luthuli, Umampinga
is a Story of four old street vendors educating a young boy about how the
system works against them. What changed it and how it can be reversed?
Their souls Directed by Thulani Myeza & Njabulo Patson, this Show is about
the man who had lost everything he had worked for during the unrest of people.
You
Written and directed by Zuzumuzi Mdamba, this is a story about how one can
afford everything they want but still can’t find inner peace they need. It
shows that one can pretend with fake breakfasts in bed just for the sake of
doing it.
My Story Written and directed by Vumile Madlanga. The story is about South
Africa in human form. South Africa is facing problems with people living within
her, they do not live the way they should live nor do things the way they
should do. She is fighting with herself
Regrets Directed by Mondli Maduna, this is a story about performing artists
who are now jailbirds due to the regretful act they did. Now they use their
free time in prison to perform and tell stories.
The remaining programme is as follows:
November 12
11h00 Umampinga
14h00 Jelly Tots
15h30 My Story
17h00 Conflicted
November 13
10h00 Jelly Tots
13h00 Umampinga
14h30 My Story
November 15
16h00 Their Souls
17h30 Umhlaba Wobaba
18h00 Isimanje
For bookings contact 076 836 2723 or email
info@magentapro.co.za
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