Theatre: Afrikaans play, Hansie Slim, tackles the pressures of the school system, ATKV, Baxter Theatre, 2021

Theatre: Afrikaans play, Hansie Slim, tackles the pressures of the school system, at The High School Drama Competition, Baxter Theatre, August 17, 2021

The quest for academic performance often leads to “stress and pressure” and trauma for learners.  It is great that Parel Vallei High School from Somerset West is staging is tackling the challenges of organised school systems (the emphasis on prizes and trophies for example), in its play, Hansie Slim, which it is staging at the Baxter on Tuesday – August 17, 2021 – as part of the ATKV High School Drama Competition (aka the ‘tienertoneelkompetisie’- theatre for teenagers). “This play opens the important conversation – a disconnect we laugh at and often accept – but this environment really does not work for all.” Marco Jacobs-  Parel Vallei High School alumnus and participant in the 2019 ATKV Tienertoneel. Note: There is only one performance of Hansie Slim, at the ATKV High School Drama Competition, at the Baxter, 5pm on August 17, 2021. Info supplied by the school.

AFRIKAANS PLAY TAKES ON SCHOOL SYSTEM AT THE BAXTER, AUGUST 17, 2021, 5pm

The ATKV High School Drama Competition, affectionately known as the ‘tienertoneelkompetisie’, is the oldest project of the organisation and seeks to nurture a love for the stage, performing, creativity and language amongst high school learners. The competition calls on plays from all around South Africa and with the help of industry professionals, provides learners with mentorship to develop their works.  Under strict Covid regulations, the Baxter will play host the Western Cape leg of the competition, with teenagers who are passionate about theatre, taking to the stage.

Parel Vallei High School from Somerset West has prepared an epic piece of theatre, Hansie Slim. In its previews it has made audiences think about the school system and its focus on academic success and how this often supersedes human relations and causes dangerous levels of stress and pressure. 

“As a hangover from industrial expansion and factory system, the modern school system carries many archaic practices and these affect learners in different, often detrimental ways. Stage manager Jelena Jerling explains:  “Hansie bares the nickname ‘Slim’ as he achieves the top place at ‘Hoerskool Bergklim’, but is this that truly important in the bigger picture? Why can’t he truly connect with people? Is the school system producing individuals or is it responsible for unfortunate statistics?  Using vivid theatre visuals and movement piece, the play looks at the existential crisis that so many teens are thrown into. Shock, random plot twists and ‘grotesque’ images are used in the play -just like life, and intended to make us think – and to help us change.”

Marco Jacobs, an ex-learner of the school and participant in the 2019 ATKV Tienertoneel Competition has watched the play and he reflects: “The almost fascist style of some schools to produce number generating creatures is something so alarming, that one only comes to realise when you leave the school system. This play opens the important conversation – a disconnect we laugh at and often accept – but this environment really does not work for all.”   

You can catch the production of Hansie Slim, at the Baxter Theatre on Tuesday. August 17, 2021, at 5pm with a limited audience. Tickets for this play and all the other plays, on at the ATKV Tienertoneel Competition, may be purchased at Webtickets. This is the Western Cape component of the competition – for the top 10 school plays in the country. Check out the hashtag #hansieslim or follow Hansie Slim at parelvallei.drama on Instagram. Read more about the competition at https://atkv.org.za/neem-deel/kultuurprojekte/tienertoneel/ Book here: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/Event.aspx?itemid=1507693596

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