A prophetess of Doom expresses herself through theatre, 150 years later
For the past week, Cape Town has been abuzz with activity, ever since Dutch award winning puppet Theatre company, Speeltheater Holland, landed on our side of the world to entertain and educate in our city, through an innovative theatre project that will give previously disadvantaged youths the opportunity to experience the world of puppet theatre. The company will not be doing this task alone; it has joined forces with Johannesburg based theatre body, Laway Theatre Company in running this exciting theatre project. Assitej South Africa is hosting all programmes between the two companies, for the duration of their stay in Cape Town.
However, the main association between Speeltheater Holland and Laway Theatre Company is circled around a collaborative theatre performance called Red Earth. Red Earth is a compelling theatre piece that takes its audiences back to a 150 years ago, in the Eastern Cape, near the Gxhara River, where a young Xhosa girl claims to receive information from her ancestors, who instruct her to pass this divine message to the rest of her people, However, it is Nongqawuse's prophecy of goodwill that leads to one of South Africa's most bizarre socio economic tragedies.
"To me, this story is about tradition versus common sense and how a message of hope and prosperity transpired into circumstances of despair and poverty for its people" says Red Earth playwriter, Saskia Janse.
"We are not trying to judge Nongqawuse, but artistically unravel her, it's almost like we are giving her a platform to express her thoughts, a privilege she didn't necessarily get to experience because of how quickly it all got out of her control, the situation just became too big for a 14 year old to handle" says Director of Red Earth, Onny Huisink.
"Can we really blame Nongqawuse for what followed, what about her charlatan uncle, he gained to become a famous Sangoma through spreading the prophecy, and the British, who gained to finally get control over Xhosa people. Says performer, Macebo Mavuso.
Macebo Mavuso forms part of the four strong cast, which includes the director of Red Earth, Onny Huisink, playwright Saskia Janse, and performer Tau Qwelane. Both Macebo Mavuso and Tau Qwelane have worked with 2011 Tony Award winners-- Handspring Puppet Theatre Company and have since branched off into their own project, Laway Theatre Company, previously known as Sisonke Theatre Company.
The five year old theatre production has been performed at various national events, such as the Grahamstown National Arts Festival (Main) and in 2006 made its first international debut in Holland,
Where it received full houses for its entire run. Due to public demand, the production returned to Holland in 2009.
Those intrigued by Speeltheater Holland can catch a lecture on the History of the company, followed by video fragments of some of the projects they have been involved in. The lecture will close off with a fun puppet manipulating demonstration, for those who love getting creative with their hands.
Those who are not satisfied with just a lecture, are invited to visit the company's website, www.speeltheater.nl
Red Earth will be performed from 8 -- 10 December 2011 at Theatre Arts Admin Collective, Cnr Milton
Road and Wesley Street, Observatory (Church hall next to Observatory Methodist Church)
Adult performances of the production will be on 8 and 10 December, at 19:30pm, with the children's
Show being on 9 December 2011 at 14:00 pm (children 10 years and up). Tickets cost R40 for adults and R20 for the children's show.
The Speel theatre lecture will also be held at Theatre Arts Admin Collective, with the lecture starting at 3:30pm. A fee of R20 will cover the entrance to this informative event.
Audiences are encouraged to attend all of these events, to experience colourful and creative family viewing, through puppetry, acting, singing, dancing and story telling
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