Pupils to act in festival play
Walmer High group off to Grahamstown showpiece to star in ‘Themba’s Dream’
THIRTY-five Walmer High School pupils have received the opportunity of a lifetime by being scheduled to appear in a play titled: Themba’s Dream at next month’s National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
The pupils will appear at the festival, fresh from their performance in Germany where they starred in a play: The World In Our Hands.
These opportunities were made possible by Port Elizabeth thespian, Xabisolethu Zweni, 30, who has been providing free drama, arts and culture classes at disadvantaged schools as a means of keeping children off the streets, since 2008.
“I asked my pupils what makes Walmer Township special to them and they replied saying that they live right next to the airport and see planes land and take off every day, Zweni said. “They also said the people who worked at the airport from the township were mostly cleaners.
“That’s when we decided to create a play about a young man who has a dream to become a pilot,” he said.
Walmer High School Grade 10 pupil, Ayabonga Tobi, 17, who plays the lead character, said he hoped every child from the township would be inspired by the story.
“This play has made me take myself seriously. I feel honoured and I have gained so much from this play. “We are all Thembas. We all want to reach our dreams and provide for our families,” Tobi said.
Grade 11 pupil, Elethu Mdodana, 19, said going to Germany was an overwhelming experience and now going to Grahamstown for the National Arts Festival proved that they were good at what they do.
“We have travelled the world and now many people will get an opportunity to see us perform. Theatre has taken us away from many challenges that we face in the township but we never imagined that it would take us across the world,” Mdodana said.
Grade 11 pupil, Lubabalo Vlakbok, 18, said the pupils were thankful that Zweni took the time to teach them about his passion for the arts.
“Xabiso motivates us and he takes us away from all the bad things that happen in the township. Xabiso has inspired us. We were introduced to theatre by him. He has invested his time in us and he wants to see us succeed,” Vlakbok said.
Masifunde Learner Development creativity coordinator, Yolanda Bukani, 28, said she facilitated the entire programme and has made sure that the entire production runs smoothly to put the pupils at ease.
Themba’s Dream will be staged at the Masonic Hall Front from July 6 to 8 in Grahamstown.