Nothing falls flat in award-winning stories
KINNES is a riveting theatre piece, written by performance artist and scriptwriter Chase Rhys. It introduces audiences to a variety of Cape Town-centric characters from the Cape Flats depicting diverse worlds: fame, fortune, gangsterism and those trying to perfect the art of being a “Cape Kardashian”.
It is set to wow audiences at the Artscape Theatre next month, making its theatrical début from April 10 to 19.
Director Hennie van Greunen, from Wordsmith’s Theatre Factory, says a “literary treasure” has been unveiled in Kinnes. The script was awarded the Adam and Rosalie Small Award and Van Greunen says it’s the best debut script he has encountered since Rachelle Greeff’s Die Naaimasjien.
Dedicated to young victims of violence on the Cape Flats, the play interrogates and creates awareness around the lack of adequate protection for the most vulnerable in communities where they need it most.
“Winning this competition is an exceptional achievement because it affords me the opportunity to use this platform to share the stories of those who have been voiceless in the past,” says Rhys.
Born and bred in Ocean View, Rhys 28, originally studied acting. “When I saw the call for the script it was the deadline day. I have always regarded Adam Small as a hero and his stories resonated with me – he was speaking about me and my family.
“I thought I should enter the competition, and shut myself in my room. It took me 12 hours to write. My laptop was broken so I had to transfer it to my phone. There were challenges .... ”
Rhys was offered a course with Van Greunen, who worked with him on the text, developing it during the mentorship programme.
Five characters people the story, and Rhys says each offers their own perspective.
“The way I have written them they are full characters. I am writing in my father, my mother, my brother. They are types of characters, not stereotypes.
“This is your neighbour. I was more interested in these people and how they got where they are. They are full, rounded, complicated characters.”
“In the play each character is facing a different issue. When you live on the Cape Flats, one of the most violent areas in the world, the question is how do you achieve big dreams? Either you get sucked up into the morass or you transcend it. It’s not a happy ending but there is hope at the end of my play.”
In Kinnes, Anwaar gets a taste of fame when he plays a gangster in a movie, but what happens when the fame dries up? Nicole is doing well at school and wants to make a success of her life, but first love is a hard teacher.
Derrick wants to write poetry, but words do not pay the bills. Mary looks after her child, but when Derrick buys a flat screen TV and builds walls around the house, she does not ask where the money comes from.
With a flat iron in her pocket, Rolanda wants to be a “Cape Kardashian”, but the Cape Flats are hard on girls’ dreams and real life means you have to do what you can to survive.
The play features some of Cape Town’s top acting talent, including Lee-Ann van Rooi, Dustin Beck, Lindsey Abrahams and Shannon Williams. Dean John Smith from Suidooster fame rounds off this cast.
Rhys emphasises: “By writing this we must have a positive influence for those within and outside the community.”
He says one of the positive spinoffs is that the script will be published by Kwela books in a more fleshed-out format.
“I’m thinking specifically of high school students for this as a setwork, in which young people can see themselves. It’s written in Afrikaans, exactly as we speak, and if learners can see that it would also encourage them.”
Rhys says the book is due to be published in October.
Van Greunen says: “We live in invigorating times and with Kinnes, Rhys has unlocked the deep well of the Cape Town narrative, and long may the stories continue to flow. His work reflects a deep understanding of the absolute desperation in which his characters find themselves and blatantly refuse to give in to hopelessness.
“It centres around one act of violence and how they deal with it. It’s a beautifully, sensitively written piece.” He says his aim is to showcase Kinnes in schools where pupils can identify and find traction with the characters.
“It’s kind of to say ‘you have to make me care’ and to engage with the issue intellectually.”
Kinnes runs at the Artscape Theatre from April 10 to 19. Tickets at www.computicket.com are priced at R100 each.