Playright Aldo Brincat is that first-generation South African of Mauritian, Egyptian and Maltese heritage. Born in mid-60’s South Africa, Brincat, along with his family, find their maturing years playing out against the backdrop of a country in turmoil.
Aldo Brincat’s award winning hit, The Moon Looks Delicious From Here, is a 70 minute, largely autobiographical solo performance, which is driven by a loving father and son relationship – each from different eras and motherlands. Here, Brincat plays an array of characters in and around a fragile young nuclear family – some foreign, some local – all of whom are finding or losing themselves in the ever-changing political landscape that is South Africa. Language, religion, ambition, sexuality, and political leanings are brought into sharp focus as our two lead characters fight off ‘otherness’, while attempting to assert themselves into a volatile new country. Key moments in their lives are juxtaposed against powerful developments in South Africa’s history during the 70s and 80s and, as the effects of apartheid (and its homophobic policies) begin to reach boiling point, family ties threaten to tear apart.
The Moon Looks Delicious From Here is universal in its theme, particularly at this time when the intersectional knock-on effects of migrancy, sexuality, heritage and identity are brought increasingly into our consciousness.
Written and performed by the international multi award winning interdisciplinary artist, Aldo Brincat, and directed by Sjaka September, with music by the multi award winning international composer, performer and producer, Bongiziwe Mabandla.
This is a multiligual production about elder abuse, originally created as an educational theatre piece for elderly of the Stellenbosch community. This play is a conversation between two psychology students and their grandmothers. Cindy grapples with the fact that her makhulu might not be as well as she thought she was, while Mandy hears stories from how her oumies friends suffer what sounds abuse in various ways, financially & physically.
‘n Meertalige narrespel aangebied in Afrikaans en isiXhosa. Guppie bevind homself in André se kou. Die Republiek van die Kapok Boer Vereniging. Die RKBV het ontstaan na ‘n aardbeweing ‘n skeur getrek het rondom ‘n lappie aarde wat twaalf plase, ‘n kerk en ‘n foefieslide adventure park insluit. André oortuig die gemeenskap dat die mense van buite ‘anders’ is, en dat hulle moet bly op die eiland. Maar op ‘n dag maak ‘n nuwe maatjie, Nkululeko, kontak met Guppie. Die produksie sal die jongspan laat skaterlag, terwyl die produksie vrae vra wat die grootmense sal laat nadink oor ons huidige polêre samelewing.
Pass The Sound is a shared learning resource, offering free warm-up, skills, creative, and workshop exercises for musicians to use whilst facilitating group music-making contexts. For more information, visit the youtube channel.
Want to extend your bag of tricks? Here is an online games resource for youth ministers and other folks that need to know good group games!
“Dude! Wa’s My Phone?” is designed for high school students from Grade 10 to Grade 12 who are enrolled in Dramatic Arts. This age group is our main target audience, given the themes’ relatability, the cultural insights it offers, and its ability to captivate and educate a demographic highly connected to the challenges and opportunities associated with digital technology.
The play provides valuable insights and raises awareness about the consequences of smartphone addiction. Our interactive story creates an environment where young audiences are more receptive to messages encouraging a healthier balance between online and offline life.
“Dude! Wa’s My Phone?” utilizes humour, drama, and relatable situations to engage learners in a contemplative exploration of the role of technology in our lives. It delves into its impact on relationships, social consciousness, and the intricacies and absurdities that arise in the digital age. The production addresses the contemporary issue of smartphone addiction, examining the following themes:
- Addiction and Dependence on Technology
- Friendship and Connection
- The Intersection of Comedy and Tragedy
- Identity and Sense of Self
- Spark Dialogue and Reflection
The award-winning show documents the spirited misadventures of a Grade 9 Afrikaans underdog and her crucial survival-advice, as a minority in an Anglophile high school. Pretina de Jager will offer expert tips on how to: hashtag like a celeb, crush the mean girl mafia, and twerk your way through teen angst.
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Mphilo is a country teenager, who is born as a blessing in the eyes of the family because she has albinism. Her grandmother believes that she can cure the disease her older daughter has and that Mphilo’s body parts can make the family rich.
Mpilo and her mother, Nozizwe, journey to confront the myths that allow young girls to be exploited, harassed and abused by authority figures in our communities. United they can reach beyond the wall of society’s myths. Nozizwe meets up with other women from different backgrounds and through Mphilo’s journey, they are able to better articulate their own struggles.
Dlamini brings her strong directorial and aesthetic signature to the work, which does not employ the use of set, but rather uses the performers’ movement and bodies to give shape to the drama.
Emily Jade was no ordinary child…
She was shy and timid but adventurous and wild.
She was odd-looking, unpopular but also quite smart,
Despite failing Science, Geography, Maths, History & Art.
You see, Emily could not stay focused – a major flaw –
She never stopped daydreaming – not ever, at all.
Young Emily, who always ‘has her head in the clouds’, decides to take up the challenge of ending the drought once and for all. She invents a marvellous machine which she flies across the African continent in search of rain clouds.
Physical theatre (Avril Cummins) combines with ‘documentary-style’ video footage, a simple, creative set, and heaps of imagination. This educational and whimsical fantasy delivers a strong message of hope, resilience and empowerment.
“The Cloud Catcher” has been performed across South Africa, including at the Assitej World Conference (2017), entertaining and educating young audiences about the drought affecting much of the country.
Performed by Avril Cummins