Arts initiative hopes to bring new positivity to Stutterheim
Township musical to be set in dusty streets of Stutterheim
Young people in the Amahlathi municipal area want to revive its flagging fortunes through the arts, and have chosen a rather unique way to do this.
The municipality, which has its base in Stutterheim, was this year ranked the worst in SA, but a play inspired by Yvonne ChakaChaka s 1980s hit I m in Love with a DJ is intended
’ ’ to show there is more to the region than meets the eye.
Tamsanqa Kasie, 25, an Africa Film and Drama Arts (Afda) graduate, said the young people of Stutterheim were on a mission to change people s perceptions by producing a
’ play set in the dusty streets of one of the townships.
The play, which is called Ghetto Fabulous: a township musical, is a love story.
Kasie, a filmmaker who has produced three short movies in his career, told the Dispatch that when he read about the municipality being the worst in SA, he volunteered to change the tide.
Stutterheim is one of the most talented “spaces I have ever seen as a creative. It pains me to see great artists going nowhere because of the lack of opportunity and resources. I find it unacceptable, which is why I am doing something about it,” he said.
I want to show that through art we can “create positive change.”
He said he had always been inspired by the music of the past.
Kasie launched his arts initiative Nangamso in 2019 and premiered his latest movie, Mlungisi, named after his township, in January.
Unemployed youth and those who have an interest in film and stage have been singled out for the play.
It is a small township musical. It is a positive “love story set in a township, told through a collection of musical performances and dance.
The musical centres on a young beautiful “girl from an affluent township who finds herself falling in love with a popular local DJ. This is a love story rooted in celebrating township culture and highlighting the more sensitive side of growing up in a township,” he said.
A total of 17 cast members and seven crew members will be involved. Kasie is the writer, director and producer. On September 24, while the country celebrated Heritage Day, the Nangamso team held auditions in Mlungisi. Those who made the final cut are still to be announced.
It s a community play aimed to bring light “’ and positivity to a struggling Stutterheim.”
The play is set to premiere in late November.
The Mlungisi community hall used to be a prominent space for artists to showcase their work, but that is no longer the case.
Stutterheim is one of the most talented spaces I have ever seen as a creative
It is a positive love story set in a township, told through music and dance