The Magnet’s ‘The Visit’ deserves visit
OPENING this week at the Magnet Theatre is Swiss playwright Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s classic comic-tragedy The Visit.
It’s always good to see a production at the multiple award-winning theatre, which promotes talented young performers.
Mark Fleishman and partner Debbie Reznek founded the programme in 1991 and, as we meet in the theatre during a break in rehearsals, it never ceases to amaze me of the dedication and inspiration they promulgate.
The Visit, co-directed by Mark Fleishman and Warona Seane, stars the talented trainees of the current fifth Magnet Theatre training programme. With a limited run, it’s a rare opportunity to see this seldom-presented classic masterpiece, which examines societal issues and how, in the face of financial gain and social advancement, some people will sell out on themselves.
The story is about a wealthy older woman who returns to her home town. There she offers residents a horrific deal – inhumane in fact. In exchange for their act of vengeance, she’ll provide enough money to revitalise the crumbling town. Will temptation win over morals?
“The Visit is a classic text – it’s a big play with a great story that makes for a funny, engaging theatrical experience,” says co-director Fleishman.
“Set in mid-20th century Europe, the play challenged the trainees to find connections with a world that was different to theirs and bring those parallels to life for a modern South African audience. In other words a tragi-comedy that references local context.”
Operating in and outside of South Africa for 30 years, Magnet runs multi-layered educational programmes aimed at transforming young people’s lives and in the theatre industry as a whole.
Fleishman says: “Magnet offers a programme designed at giving artistic skills to those who can’t access university courses and it makes them more employable.”
Aside from Fleishman and Reznek, Mandla Mbothwe is the third director. All are highly qualified academically and experienced in performing arts and theatre.
In 2008, Magnet started a sustained two-year full-time training programme, based in Cape Town.
In each two-year cycle, there are classes in play, imagination, physical theatre, voice, dance, singing, improvisation and play making. There are organised visits to the theatre, to expose the groups to mainstream and community performance, and students are placed in work shadow in various aspects of the theatre industry.
Carlo Daniels has already garnered some prestigious awards while in training at the theatre. While he’s been in several professional shows, including with David Kramer, he says he’d heard about Magnet and came to the premises through workshops.
He was overjoyed when he was accepted for the programme after a successful audition. “It feels like home for me. And what we learn is incredible for our future.”
Yvonne Msebenzi from Mfuleni said it wasn’t easy to get in. “But when you want something you strive for it. We will never forget getting those calls to say that we were accepted.”
Fleishman adds that aside from the training programme there’s a Culture Gangs project – that includes about 200 school-going youth – to encourage a commitment to culture and not to crime.
Operating in the Cederberg municipality is a rural arts program for about 1000 children.
To mention a few highlights – the internationally successful “Every Year, Every Day I Am Walking” (for teenagers) toured 17 countries in 28 international tours a few years ago and Magnet Theatre was also nominated by ASSITEJ for the 2014 ASSITEJ Award for Artistic Excellence in Theatre for Children and Youth.
Fleishman boasts that of almost 100 participants since 2008, the programme has helped 25-first generation university attendees.
Twelve graduated and nine are still studying. More success is that 72% of the others have found employment in the profession.
Last year, 15 graduates were employed at Magnet Theatre in various capacities and 51 graduates were employed in 10 000 performances, with 48 new productions created by the graduates.
Ninety-four percent of all graduates are either employed, self-employed or furthering their studies.
The Visit
will be performed from tomorrow until Saturday at 7.30pm, with a matinee on Saturday, at 2pm at Magnet Theatre, Corner of Lower Main and St Michael’s roads, Observatory.
Limited seating, booking is essential. Ample parking is available next to the theatre.
Tickets cost R70 with concessions for scholars, students, pensioners and groups of 10 or more at R50. Bookings at www.webtickets.co.za