First mono-drama festival to run
THE inaugural SoloAfrika Festival of MonoDrama starts next week with two local artists under the mentorship of stage and screen veteran Kurt Egelhof set to share their life stories in front of a live audience.
The event by Applauz Arts Initiative will present the first of its kind festival at the Artscape Theatre where there will be one-person plays of any genre under one label, monodrama.
Belhar resident Dominic Paulsen, 40, will perform his piece Fat Man’s Coop, which talks about his challenges of obesity, depression and suicide.
“There was a time in my life where I had to choose between someone or acting and this is how I went from (being) a thin healthy person to my current physical state. This is very difficult, performing your story instead of acting as someone else and being completely open and vulnerable,” said Paulsen.
Young actress Motlatji Ditodi,originally from Pretoria, will perform about her relationship with her father. Her play is called Dr Ramoagi Isaac Ditodi (R.I.D.).
“After meeting at a workshop in 2016, Kurt remembered me and contacted me when he conceptualised this festival.
“My performance is a story I have not told anyone, but is also universal, about black fatherhood, a black family, especially with the image of this figure in today’s world,” said Ditodi.
It was difficult at times, she said, especially the writing as Egelhof would challenge her to be more open and it became therapeutic.
The festival is the culmination of a 10-year journey for Egelhof, who has performed his one-person play For Generations about the inherited father-to-son legacy since 2008.
“There was an opportunity to expand something that I had discovered that no one had dared to discover.
“A formula for taking your personal story and turning it into a universal story that everyone can own,” said Egelhof. For the amount of talent he discovered over the years, he knew that he had to create the SoloAfrika Festival of MonoDrama and envisions the festival becoming national and international.
Instead of climbing the ladder, young performers must take ownership and create their own platforms, said Egelhof.
Two international productions by world-renowned actor Pip Utton, his award-winning production Maggie and his second play Adolf will open and close the festival.
The festival runs from September 4 to 9 at the Artscape Arena Theatre. For further inquiries contact Natalia da Rocha on 072 123 1781 or e-mail applauz.arts.initiative@gmail.com.