Narrative Dreams is a nostalgic and beautiful piece exploring two very different childhoods, which share, despite their differences, a sense of isolation and loneliness. Narrative Dreams tells the coming of age story of two boys from different worlds, Morena and David, who puzzle their way through the tumultuous, playful years of childhood life in search of friendship, acceptance and wholeness. As they grow into adolescence David and Morena try to make sense of the world into which they are moving. They face challenges that accompany their journey and start to ask questions about whether they will be able to realise the dreams of their childhood.
Narrative Dreams
KICKOUT is a folktale that tells the story of the land act with a twist. It explores the relationships of the natives of a small community, which survives with farming as a means of income. This economic activity of farming is the only thing that holds this community through seasons of thick and thin. Until one day through the evil of the village law, boRadinala usurp the community and its business, leaving the natives powerless and slaves of their own community. But through the help of the underground legend, the natives fight hard against boRadinala until what rightfully belongs to them is restored and a new hero is born.
Molalatladi is chosen by his villagers to be the new leader of the village after defeating the Ogres that terrorized and oppressed them for years. He wants to lead his village and create a better life for them but Ogres plant a seed of greed in his head. This leads to his downfall.
The naked truth of what it means to follow your heart.
A comedy.
In many ways a tragedy.
But mostly a comedy.
One Woman, One Show explores the reality of the stories that make or break us, it looks at what it takes to do what you believe in. A show that tackles self-image, identity and relationships, a ‘tragi-comedy’ that looks at the REAL world of ‘showbiz’
Foursight explores a High-school killing a year after the event and is told through the experiences of 4 characters. In attempting to understand how and why it happened the play cracks open the shells of our education system, bullying in schools, the media, the teenage mind and the role of absent the parent, who is willing to take responsibility? The play tackles identity, prejudice, self-image, violence, abuse and tolerance. Few stones are left unturned.
One day Nomonde finds out that Che is playing with her life. Players, sex, love, family and tv shows…
What is true, what is real, what is fake?
In this play which is a mixture of puppetry,drama, dance and music we follow Nomonde in her search for a way out.
This play has been made based on research about loverboys, interviews with youngsters on several schools.
Every year a stork migrates from the lush Dutch landscape to the deep warm South of Africa. He knows lots of stories. One of which is the true story about Nongqawuse, a 15 year old Xhosa girl that radically changed the history of the Xhosa people. One day Nongqawuse comes back from the river. She tells that the ancestors appeared to her with the prophecy that the dead will arise, the white people and unbelievers will be driven into the sea and the once powerful Xhosa people will be as strong as before. To make this happen they have to kill all their cattle and burn all their grain. This prophecy brings hope to the people. They are tormented by colonial wars and mysterious cattle diseases. But it also brings discord among the Xhosa people, manipulation and betrayal and in the end a terrible famine. Everyone points at Nongqawuse. But was she really the cause of the disaster that ensued? Maybe this mystery can never be unravelled. Everyone has his interpretation of the facts. Will a bird with homes in both hemispheres ever be able to understand?
Red Earth is a co-production with Speeltheater Holland and premiered in Grahamstown 2006 and was later performed in the Netherlands more than 200 times. In 2013 Red Earth will be on tour in South Africa.
THE WALKING TALL EDUCATIONAL THEATRE PROJECT – produced by (PAST) The Palaeontological Scientific Trust – a Johannesburg based public benefit organisation that since 1994 has been dedicated to the mission of protecting, preserving and promoting Africa’s ancient cultural and natural heritage.
Our production is a physical theatre production performed country wide and increasingly in the rest of Africa.
Walking Tall inspires learners to recognise, understand and value their African heritage by using physical theatre to ignite an interest in the origin sciences. Using performing arts to teach science is the perfect way to spark curiosity in learners and demonstrate that science is fun.
Walking Tall is an interactive educational theatre project that teaches learners the story of life on earth from its early beginnings to the present day – using physical theatre to cut across language and cultural barriers, and to explore complex subjects like human evolution and the origin sciences.
The Walking Tall project was launched by PAST in 2002 as a way to inform learners about Africa’s rich fossil heritage, and to establish origin sciences as an exciting career choice for young Africans. Africa boasts many of the world’s most important fossil finds of human ancestors and more ancient organisms, yet relatively few African scientists currently work in this specialised field.
Over the past decade, Walking Tall has performed to over 1 million learners around the world and worked with thousands of educators – helping them integrate scientific ideas into everyday classroom teaching and introducing learners to interesting career options in the field of origin sciences. Performances are followed by question-and-answer sessions, and teachers are provided with curriculum-based resources. Walking Tall also offers origin sciences workshops for educators. PAST monitors the educational impact of the Walking Tall project through a stringent learner and educator evaluation process under the management of its Chief Educational and Scientific Strategist.
Walking Tall is co-directed by Greg Melvill-Smith and Craig Morris, and is performed by three physical theatre performers, the current team leader is Buntu Tembani.
In 2011 the Walking Tall project expanded to include ReVerse, a theatre offering aimed at adult audiences. Please see the PAST website for more information on ReVerse.
Take the Walking Tall Journey
Should you wish to find out more about booking Walking Tall or ReVerse please contact:
PAST’s Executive Assistant Ann Smilkstein at ann@nullpastafrica.co.za or +27 11 717 6668 / +27 11 717 6689.
Doctor Collinger’s Funeral Service, directed by the celebrated Janet Buckland, and starring Daniel Buckland (The Travellers 2005) and Taryn Bennett (Frogs 2007). This exciting work played to packed houses, enjoyed acclaim by critics and was the talking point of the 2007 National Arts Festival. Embark on a dark, hilarious and exhilarating adventure; through death, love and laughter.
Focusing on whales, this high energy physical theatre show explores the comparisons between whales and humans and lets us in on some of the secrets of these mysterious creatures of the deep.
The wondering whale watchers are on a quest to be like whales as they swirl their audience into an exciting adventure of juggling to catch food, bubbling underwater music and receiving e-whales from a whale called Wonder.
They explore the relationship between whales and people through the ages and look at how these beautiful creatures communicate, what they eat and how they form part of the ecology of the planet.
Through this fun adventure for the whole family the wondering whale watchers discover a new way forward for the relationship between whales and people.
This show was originally created by Jungle Theatre Company in 2001.