Youth Month line-up
ARTSCAPE Theatre is planning an exhilarating entertainment line-up for Youth Month. The inaugural monthlong youth festival, which runs from June 3 to July 15, will feature a host of productions showcasing the diverse talents of Cape Town’s young people.
Artscape has joined forces with the Department of Education to give pupils the opportunity to study subjects like drama, music and dance at school.
The festival is set to begin on a magical note on June 3 when the Cape Town College of Magic presents its popular Imagine! family magic spectacular for two shows only at 12pm and 2.30pm.
Next up is the first of three community theatre productions on the programme: Jing’elweni (hanging from a cliff), devised by its cast and director Thando Baliso in partnership with Uprising Arts Project, tells the story of young Kwindla who clings to her education and books as an escape from the personal turmoil and poverty surrounding her. The play will be staged from June 5-8 at 7.30pm.
The city’s finest hip hop dancers will bring their explosive skills to the stage on June 9 and 10 for Cape Town’s Most Wanted. The city’s most talented Isipantsula dancers will also be shining on June 9 and 10 when they compete in the Ayatshis’ amateki Mapantsula. The community theatre musical
Gomora interrogates identity issues within the context of the new democratic South Africa. With an age restriction of 16 due to strong language, it showcases from June 13-16 at 7.30pm.
A newbie to the Artscape youth month line-up showcases Cape Town’s best up-and-coming comedy acts on June 16 and 17.
Comedy aside, the theatre itself will be a hive of activity on Youth Day, June 16, with the Desmond & Leah Tutu Foundation hosting health workshops in the Chandelier Foyer between 9am and 1pm, the ongoing exhibition by the Chrysalis Academy from 9am to 5pm and entertainment by the Uitsig Rieldansers and the Buyelekhaya Dancers, plus a live installlation piece by Tatenda WekwaFazi and Sizo Mahlangu on the piazza.
Dumi & Betusile LIVE DVD Recording will offer a glamorous end to the day in the Artscape Theatre from 6pm. The final community theatre piece, Silent Cries, will be staged in the Artscape Arena from June 19-22 at 7.30pm.
Two generations of music collide on June 23 and 24 for Smoortjies & Smoothies featuring Jitsvinger and Mervyn Africa. Cape Town’s young budding jazz musicians will get a chance to show off their skills at the Artscape Youth Jazz Festival on June 30.
The popular Sekunjalo Edujazz concert is back, with guest artists, on July 1 for a two-and-a-half-hour musical extravaganza.
Artscape Youth Development’s Born Frees will end the Youth Month programme from July 13-15 with their dance production. Hear Our Voices.
Tickets range from R40 to R300 and are available at Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat at 021 421 7695. For more information about any of the productions, see www.artscape.co.za