Themes: introduction to music and musicians & water preservation.
Talented saxophone player Bongani the Elephant has a dream of starting a band with other jungle animals. His challenge is that there is a drought in the jungle, because it has not rained a lot and the humans are using up all the water. Making music makes you very thirsty! Bongani takes you on a journey of starting his first band, from finding his band members to composing the first songs.
Generously supported by the National Lotteries Commission, Well Worn Theatre Company proudly present their latest production for young audiences. ‘Galela‘ is a thirst-quenching new play about a community deeply affected by our country´s water issues.
Splash! Splutter! Then shhhhhh… Only ripples left. Would you dive in next?
Three best friends bravely embark on a project to make their town´s drinking water safe again. They soon discover, however, that they have waded into hot water and that the problems affecting the town dam are deeper and murkier than at first glance. Still determined to make a difference and to secure the future of their friends and family, the trio dive in to fix the mess, proving in spectacular fashion that children with the biggest imaginations will save the world.
Nationally acclaimed eco-education company, Well Worn Theatre, proudly present the latest production in their three-year touring play programme generously funded by the National Lotteries Commission. ´Galela´ is the thirst-quenching story of a small community deeply affected by our country’s water issues. Directed by multi-award winning Thembela Madliki (‘Nyanga’ NAF 2016 and ‘Bayephi’ NAF 2017), ‘Galela’ features the energetic physical theatre talents of Lerato Sefoloshe, Mlindeli Emmanuel and Tebogo Machaba, and is geared for children aged 7 to 12, though parents, teachers and older siblings will also enjoy this epic adventure play!
An IsiXhosa name meaning ‘pour’, ‘Galela’ is the thirst-quenching story of a small community deeply affected by drought. The show dives head first into the deep end of the serious water issues affecting our country, and though geared for children aged 7 to 12, this epic adventure play will whet all peoples creative appetites, and also refresh or fill ALL South Africans with some much needed, every day, water-saving tips. ‘Galela’ premieres at the 2018 National Arts Festival followed by a tour to primary schools and festivals across South Africa, in the aim to entertain, educate, and imaginatively engage learners and audiences about issues of drought, water consumption and water pollution.
To book a performance of ´Galela´for your school, organisation or event, please email wellworntheatre@nullgmail.com or call Kyla on 0767152414
Poster Image by Ellen Heydenrych (Hey_Ellen Illustrations)
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?
About the Director:
Studying performing arts and teaching in drama at the Waterfront Theatre College, she taught drama at the Stellenbosch Waldorf School for 3 years and in 2016 she was a part of a programme called ‘Miss Earth South Africa’ and became one of 16 National finalists. At the end of the year she wrote a play called “The Recycling adventures of Reece”. A play that aims to inspire children and up lift them through storytelling and teaches them about taking care of the earth.
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.
National Children’s Theatre (NCT), kick starts its 2017 season with an upbeat family musical that has a simple but heartwarming message: Accept the skin you’re in! Step inside the world of Freckleface Strawberry who will do anything to get rid of her freckles. This funny, witty, entertaining production will run at NCT from 14 March 2017 during school holidays.
This production has been made possible by the last part of a grant of R2m from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).
Based on the best-selling book by actor, Julianne Moore, Freckleface Strawberry The Musical tells the story of a young, red-haired girl with freckles, who is being teased by her school-friends. She tries everything to make herself look like others as she is so embarrassed by the spots that won’t rub off, the hair colour that won’t wash out, the makeup that doesn’t work. In desperation, she comes to school in a ski mask. With the assistance of her helpful and loving friends, Freckleface eventually learns that everyone is different and that’s what makes everyone special.
The delightful songs: Little Freckleface Strawberry, I Like Danny, Kid in the Mask, Be Yourself, Basketball, When You Got Friends, will have the audience bopping on their seats. The high upbeat energy of this feel good show with memorable characters will touch your heart, charm you with its message and have you dancing out of the theatre at its conclusion.
Professional talented actors will keep both children and adults delighted and enthralled. The message is friendship, acceptance and discovering that being different is what makes us unique.
The creative team includes Artistic Director: Francois Theron, Musical Director: Rowan Bakker, Original Choreography: Shelly Adriaanzen and restaged by Phillida Le Roux, Costume Design: Sarah Roberts, Set Design: Stan Knight and Lighting Design: Jane Gosnell.
An educational enrichment guide is available for schools to use as support material in the classroom.
When: 14 March to 13 April 2017
Time: Daily at 10:30 and 14:30 during government school holidays; 1½ hours with a short intermission
Where: National Children’s Theatre, 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown, Johannesburg.
Tours To schools can be arranged
Ticket prices: Tickets for chairs are R120 and tickets for cushions are R100.00. Tickets for Pensioner’s are R100.00. Phone Claudy or Zuki on 011 484 -1584/5 or email bookings@nullnctt.org.za . There is ample free, safe parking available within the grounds. Note Booking is essential as some days we tour to schools.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Visit our website on www.nationalchildrenstheatre.org.za
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/117104588327503/ and keep up to date with production news on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NCTParktown and Instagram: https://instagram.com/nctparktown/
Playtime Antics is a nonverbal clown performance for children of all ages.
In theatre one of the more impactful styles of performance is that of ‘Clowning‘. Clowning enables the performer to stay centred on the audience, being accessible to them so that he in turn can open up to them and their energy. This informs his performance, ensuring true impact.
This style together with a non-verbal presentation also asks both performer and audience member ‘to listen with their eyes’, essentially employing other sensory mechanisms in understanding and comprehending – delivering what has been hailed a truly unique and enriching theatre experience
With this year’s performance, we will be exploring relationships on the playground…relationships which we seem to encounter in adulthood as well and therefore an all to pertinent theme to explore … is it possible to form and maintain meaningful relationships regardless of our differences…can the bully, the shy girl and the smart boy in class be friends?
Books Come Alive makes it easy for Grade 11 and 12 learners to remember their English FAL literature works by bringing the prescribed short stories, novels and dramas to life. The show travels to high schools in Limpopo Province with a small cast of 4 actors.
No Monkey Business: Safety First deals with basic safety, responsibility and trust.
Thandi has to go out on an errand. After teaching Mac and Vanda the rules of being alone and about strangers, she leaves. Needless to say the minute she’s gone Clarence Crocodile shows up disguised as a postman with a special surprise delivery for Mac. Fortunately, Mac manages to come to his senses just in time and Clarence’s little plot is foiled. But not for long, the ever persistent Clarence returns with a pizza, and this time he’s not taking no for an answer. But Mac is not that gullible – or is he? Instead, Clarence sells Mac some matches to cook himself supper – with predictable results. Fortunately Thandi comes home before the fire rages out of control.
This show examines the concepts of personal responsibility, personal safety and trust. It looks at the rules that we need to know in order to keep ourselves safe and why we have those rules. While dealing primarily with personal safety, the show also examines how to respond to unfamiliar people and situations, the notion of trust, and promotes looking after oneself and others. The intent is to foster the concepts of personal security and accountability for yourself and others.
The aims of the show are to leave the learner with a clear, sensible understanding of some of the more basic rules of daily life, a grasp of what responsibility and trust mean, and how to keep oneself, and others safe and out of harms way.
First published in 2002, the play tells a complex South African story exploring subtle issues of family, siblings, rivalry, truth, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation.