Stage: Pre-Christmas season at Theatre Arts, Cape Town

Caroline Calburn, artistic director of Theatre Arts in Cape Town is inviting audiences to a pre-Christmas season at the much loved independent theatre.”We have a pre-Christmas season with a difference this year – a reminder for us of what to celebrate and what to remember.” Read on for more. Info as supplied:

Pre-Christmas season at Theatre Arts, Cape Town

Once Upon a Christmas is a joyous celebration of dance and Rhonel Stoltz’s dance school.  This year their end of studio concert is in the form of a Christmas story, and with dancers between the ages of 2 and 55, this performance will be a total joy for anyone who loves dance, community and good old Christmas cheer.  Tickets for Once Upon a Christmas will be premium as the theatre is usually fit to bursting with proud parents, friends and family.

And then No Christmas for Us, the award-winning play by Zoe Bikwana, a history teacher from Nyanga who allows us to remember that back in 1976, amongst the fire and riots of the school children that shook the nation and blazed a trail for what eventually became SA’s democracy, a tragedy was unfolding in Nyanga.  No Christmas for Us reminds us of the sacrifice that so many made, and a time to be grateful for those who did.  Performed by young people from Imbiza Theatre Company in Kraaifontein, No Christmas for Us is also an opportunity to celebrate and invest in the young people of our country who, against odds, are trying to find a meaningful way for themselves in this world.

And to round off the year, we will be hosting a Christmas Night Market – from the December 11-14.

Let’s celebrate Christmas through the arts this year.  See you at the theatre.

Once Upon a Christmas

Dance
85 mins
Adapted, choreographed and Directed by Rhonel STOLTZ | Performed by dancers between the ages of 2 and 55 years old.
Fri 1st Nov 7pm • Sat 2nd Nov 2:30pm
• Sat 2nd Nov 7pm
• Sun 3rd Nov 4:30pm

Rhonel celebrates 51 years of dance and 30 years of teaching. Rhonel loves the Christmas season and what better way to celebrate the studio’s milestone…… with a Christmas story. Sets and décor are designed by local and international actor and playwright Peter Butler. Bookings: https://theatrearts.co.za/show/once_upon_a_christmas

No Christmas for Us

Theatre
60 mins
Written by Nokuzola Zoe BIKWANA | Co-produced by Nelisa FUSA | Directed by Sonwabo MPHANDLE | Costumes and props by Khanyisa JAMES | Performed by IMBIZA THEATRE COMPANY
Wed 6th Nov 7pm • Thu 7th Nov 7pm
• Fri 8th Nov 7pm
• Sat 9th Nov 2pm
• Sat 9th Nov 7pm

No Christmas For Us reflects on a rarely discussed event. The setting of the story is Nyanga Township, Cape Town. The year is 1976. The youth in South African townships are actively involved in violent protests against Apartheid and use of Afrikaans as a language of instruction. A group of young people attempt to persuade and convince the migrant labourers in the Nyanga hostels about the importance of having them support their activities. The migrants have a different perspective. The meetings between the two groups fail miserably leading to a whole series of unpleasant events that result in a Christmas Day massacre. No Christmas For Us explores how township communities recover from this ‘divide and rule’ policy and how a rather painful reconciliation can reveal why some of the youth stay true to the vows of making it in life and how some lose the battle and remain caught up in the cycle of poverty. The story reminds young people about the responsibility they have towards improving the plight of others who might not be as fortunate.

No Chistmas For Us won the Imbewu Playwriting Award in 2016 and was brought into production at The Zabalaza Festival at the Baxter Theatre that same year.

Bookings: https://theatrearts.co.za/show/no_christmas_for_us