Does anyone have any idea what the impact of the pandemic of HIV and AIDS is having on our children and their family life? How does one approach this sensitive subject? Did you know that a live theatre show like, Tand’ Impilo can open up a safe space to discuss the subject and this forum can save lives?
Thand’ Impilo
uNontombi is a traditional musical play which portrays two men fighting over a beautiful woman in a Zulu village. The young man Mkhonto make use of traditional powers to win the love of uNontombi as our story continues the audience witnesses a crucial turn where love is taking its direction. we see mbuzini a close friend of Mkhonto betrays him by proposing uNontombi and only to find out that she loves Mbuzini more than Mkhonto.
Four white-collar workers. Four rungs of the corporate ladder. One objective.
OfficeBLOCK follows four co-workers in their individual battle for power within the cogs of the corporate world. Trading in currencies of greed and self-promotion, they all make their plays at moving up the food chain…until being faced with the same question: how far would they go to get what they want?
Taking on life around the office water cooler in a series of captivating vignettes that lift the lid on the tyranny of conformity and the culture of corporate greed. The series is set in the seemingly familiar world of white-collar workers and dreary office surroundings where everything is business as usual…or is it? In a battle between personal and personnel, four co-workers negotiate life within the corporation, and the audience watches as things unravel at the suit-seams when the hunger for greed and power leads to the point of no return.
Featuring FTH:K’s signature brand of visual theatre, OfficeBLOCK is a rollercoaster of dark humour and non-verbal narrative, taking a poignant journey into the politics of people.
Devised by the ensemble under the direction of Jayne Batzofin
Featuring Christopher Beukes, Asanda Rilityana, Sinethemba Mgebisa, Marlon Snyders
Directed by Jayne Batzofin
Set and costume design by Jayne Batzofin
A collaboration between Lashona Arts and Gisele Turner of Happy-go-Lucky Productions and has resulted in an award-winning play ready to tour schools. Set in the Inanda Township, the play, Lucky Strike – which is published as a Grade Seven Set work – focuses on a young boy who is part of a child-headed household. An orphaned puppy wanders into S’fiso’s shack and changes his life. The play addresses various social issues including xenophobia, death of a parent, the vulnerability of young people as well as such positive themes as community support, the joy of owning a pet and feminine empowerment.
Using a life-size marionette for the dog and two mouth puppets the show offers a rich cultural and artistic experience as well as a meaningful message.
Isihumane and Malume is an interactive clown performance using traditional storytelling and physical theatre to explore themes of HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence. Performed in either isiZulu or isiXhosa, Isihumane and Malume pushes the boundaries, taboos, and social norms about HIV/AIDS, gender, and violence against women through humour and laughter.
A long, long time ago there was a family that lived in a small village. They were very happy together in their little home. The father worked in the fields while the mother was busy at home cleaning and cooking. They had two daughters who were very helpful to their mother. The older ones name was Dema and the last born was Demazana….
When 5 clowns arrive in a school ready to tell a traditional South African story, “Dema and Demazane,” things turn upside down. They get lost in the story and discover that STIs, sugar daddies, gender norms and discrimination, and sexual violence are no laughing matter…
But in the face of all these difficult issues that affect us all so personally, how can we not but find humour in our common existence? As the clowns blunder through the story, climbing on top of and through each other, they discover that we all share common fears, misconceptions, and desires around sex and sexuality.
Isihumane and Malume approaches these issues and more through the power of laughter and play. The performance is provocative, insightful, and, as all Clowns Without Borders productions, disarmingly funny!
6 actors, 5 acts, 75 minutes, 6 puppets and 3 masks – Brett Goldin Bursary winner, Nkosinathi Gaar, uses his training with the Royal Shakespeare Company and experience with The Handspring Puppet Company to take the famed ‘Scottish Play’ to a new level and new audience. A young, exciting cast bring refreshing energy to the well-known play.
Once Upon a Fire is a dance and story-telling production aimed at children and families. 3 Performers will delve into the treasure trove of stories from our continent and beyond and weave them together into a new story, celebrated in dance. This cross-disciplinary production combines dance, traditional storytelling, object play, vocal mis-en-scene, physical characterisation and comedy.
Look Before You Leap: Being Right deals with democracy, human rights, racism and discrimination.
Focussing in particular on the issues of diversity and inclusivity such as poverty, inequality, race, gender, language, age, and disability, discrimination on the basis of race, religion, culture, gender, sexuality, age, ability and language, as well as the concepts of institutionalised racism, xenophobia, and other forms of “othering”, are addressed.
The story pivots around the election of a school’s Student Representative Council. The Learners are introduced to the candidates standing for election, their motivation for running and each candidate’s aims and objectives outlined in their campaigns’. The Audience become the electorate, participating actively in the democratic processes that support and promote the promotion and advancement of the candidates, while simultaneously being privy to the ‘real’ experience of the identity, concerns and motivations of the characters.
Personal and individual needs are placed in a social context that encourages acceptance of diversity and fosters commitment to the values and principles entrenched in the Constitution. The show deals with social relationships and human rights and responsibilities, including how knowledge and understanding of diversity and inclusivity contributes to the development of responsible citizenship and social justice.
The aim is that audience will become (more) politically literate in terms of knowing, understanding and actively participating in democratic processes, both socially and politically. The importance of volunteerism, social service and involvement in a democratic society are emphasised, and the causes, consequences and prevention of pervasive social ills, such as HIV, and all forms of violence and abuse, are also addressed.
SENIOR PHASE (Grades 8 and 9)
- Topic 1: Development of the self in society
- Topic 2: Health, social and environmental responsibility
- Topic 3: Constitutional rights and responsibilities
FET PHASE (Grade 10 – 12)
- Topic 1: Development of the self in society
- Topic 2: Social and environmental responsibility
- Topic 3: Democracy and human rights
First adapted in 2014 and set in a classroom, this production brings eight of the most famous short stories writers (that include South Africans) to life. Stories include The Dube Train, by Can Themba, Manhood, by John Wain and many more!