Zabalaza Challenge to sponsor tickets for less fortunate

THE EIGHTH annual Zabalaza Theatre Festival is back at the Baxter Theatre this week with 150 artists scheduled to take part in more than 40 productions and events during the week-long festival.

The festival will run from Saturday, March 10, to Saturday, March 17, with activities for the entire family.

Baxter chief executive Lara Foot is appealing to people to join the Zabalaza Challenge and buy tickets to sponsor the less fortunate to attend the festival.

“I would like to invite you to invest in the future of our theatre-makers, by joining me in this challenge. These tickets will be given to learners who cannot afford to buy any, and the takings at the door go straight back to the young artists who are presenting their work at the festival.

“This money goes back into the community so that more plays can be produced by these talented artists,” said Foot.

The festival, which is a development programme providing exposure for artists around the Western Cape, will see one participant being awarded a three-year bursary from City Varsity.

A one-year internship at The Fugard Theatre has also been made available for an artist to gain insight into the operations of the theatre.

For those looking to be entertained, isiXhosa comedy oMpondo Zihlanjiwe will showcase on Saturday, March 10, at 7pm, with 13 stand-up comedians performing in isiXhosa.

Real Art Wednesdays – which features singers, bands, dancers, rappers, poets and beat boxers – will perform on Sunday, March 11, and Friday, March 16.

A jumping castle, face painting as well as food, clothing and accessories stalls will also be available.

Also in the line-up are six productions from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport’s game changer and after school programme, with participants from schools in the Overberg, Cape Winelands, Central Karoo and Eden districts.

The main festival includes 28 productions chosen from four mini-festivals which took place in February in Khayelitsha, Delft, Athlone and Langa. Shows will take place daily at 10.30am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 7pm throughout the week.

Tickets cost just R30 for any production, except for the Real Art Wednesdays’ performances which are R50 and the comedy

oMpondo Zihlanjiwe, which is R80. The full programme is available from the Baxter website at www.baxter.co.za.

THE MONEY GOES BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT MORE PLAYS CAN BE PRODUCED