| The Young Professionals Theatre Arts Where: Theatre Arts, Methodist Church Hall, corner Milton Road and Wesley Street, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925 When: January 18 to February 3, 2024 (eight productions- drama, comedy, dance) What: A season of some of the best theatre and dance by graduating students from UCT, Rhodes University, UKZN, Northlink, NWU-Pukke, Magnet Theatre and Rainbow Academy. Meet these young artists as they enter into the industry Tickets: R80 and R120 for general admission with concessions for scholars, students and pensioners Bookings: https://theatrearts.co.za Info: caroline@theatrearts.co.za or call 082 752 1376 |
Thrilling news is the season of The Young Professionals at Theatre Arts in Observatory, Cape Town. This innovative platform was launched in 2023 and 2024 sees the 2nd year of showcasing the pick of a brilliant cohort of young creatives who have received acclaim for their work. The platform provides an opportunity for audiences to see the work which has been staged for limited seasons. Producers out there, are advised to check out the work of the young graduates from around the country. There are eight productions in The Young Professionals 2024: Drama, comedy and dance. Read on for more: Info as supplied:
The Young Professionals at Theatre Arts- 2024
Each year a new cohort of young graduates from the many tertiary institutions around the country enter the creative industry, brimming with talent and enthusiasm. Their final year is brought to a close with performances that are staged a few times and then shelved. Despite the investment of time and resources many of these productions are never seen again. 2024 is the second year in which we are changing that narrative. The Young Professionals are bringing the best of their final year work to a local stage, and you have the opportunity to see them as they begin their burgeoning careers.
The Young Professionals at Theatre Arts was initiated in 2023 with six theatre and dance productions by graduates from UCT’s Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies CTDPS), Rhodes University and Stellenbosch University. This year this has expanded to include graduates from Northlink, University of Kwazulu Natal, University of the Northwest Potchefstroom, the Rainbow Academy and Magnet Theatre – a total of eight productions. There is comedy, drama and dance showcasing the talents of the new generation of theatre makers, actors and dancers. These are young people who are stepping out to become the future of theatre.
Ganga Nyoko! Inzima Nyoko! directed by Siphenathi Siqwayi, a graduate of Magnet Theatre’s training programme and a member of their youth company, has already received awards both at the Baxter’s Zabalaza Festival and the Fleur du Caps. Exploring the repercussions on friendships when long kept secrets begin to surface, watch searing performances by both writer and performer Sibuyiselo Dywili along with new ACT graduate Siyamthanda Bangani.
Second Hands, directed by Rhodes University graduate Khanya Yabo and created in collaboration with the cast, received a Standard Bank Ovation award at the National Arts Festival in 2023. Starting sober and ending as the characters black out in an alcoholic stupor, Second Hands explores the disturbingly common occurrence of alcoholism and its distorted world where boundaries collapse, secrets surface and a murder mystery emerges.
Waiting has been created by students from The Rainbow Academy in Cape Town. Written and directed by Nonhlanhla Duda, Waiting is set on a station platform in De Aar where three women discover mutual freedoms and deep and unsettling connections as they anticipate the arrival of the train from Cape Town.
Samuel Joemat from North west University tells the story of the arrival of the new English teacher in a small Afrikaans community in Miss Morris. Nothing is safe in the small community, and her existence is threatened.
The full programme includes Waiting (Rainbow Academy), Cybernetics of the Human (University of Cape Town’s CTDPS), Second Hands (Rhodes University), Aloga (CTDPS), Miss Morris (NWU Potchefstroom), Waiting for Macbeth (UKZN), Teen Watse Koste van Wyk (Northlink) and Ganga Nyoko! Inzima Nyoko! (graduates from Magnet Theatre and ACT).
Tickets vary between R80 and R120 for general admission with concessions for scholars, students and pensioners. Bookings can be made https://theatrearts.co.za
Theatre Arts is at the Methodist Church Hall, Cnr Milton Road and Wesley Street, Observatory. On street parking is available and the venue has a wheelchair accessible entrance. The schedule has been planned to take the load shedding schedule into account so while we don’t have an alternative energy supply, performances will not be affected by power outages.
For more information about the productions and young professionals, email caroline@theatrearts.co.za or call 082 752 1376.
| Follow Theatre Arts on social media Where: Theatre Arts, Methodist Church Hall, corner Milton Road and Wesley Street, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925 Info: caroline@theatrearts.co.za Website: https://theatrearts.co.za/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheatreArtsObs/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theatrearts.obs/ Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/theatreartsct Telegram Channel: https://t.me/theatreartsupcomingshows Whatsapp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va8dLoTGZNCyel0MB42T TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theatrearts.obs Theatre Arts Theatre Arts is the home of independent theatre in Cape Town and the very successful Emerging Young Theatre Directors Bursary. Built on the tenets of affordability, inclusivity and accessibility, Theatre Arts is a vibrant home for local theatre practitioners – a place where they can create work, develop skills, perform, engage in dialogue and meet and work with theatre practitioners who come from diverse backgrounds, whether cultural, social, and economic or simply in skill and experience. Described as the rehearsal space of choice, Theatre Arts is dedicated to creating the right environment for artists and theatre to flourish. In an industry which is culturally divided, dominated by a few voices and vastly under-supported financially, both through patronage and funding, Theatre Arts strives to support, enable and provide opportunity for artists to continue developing skills, creating work and generating income. Open to fresh ideas and up for experimentation based on current trends in economic thinking, Theatre Arts is an organic model and successful training ground for re-conceptualising what a theatre institution, in South Africa, can be and how it can sustain itself. For more information, visit www.theatrearts.co.za |
✳ Featured image: Ganga Nyoko! Inzima Nyoko!, directed by Siphenathi Siqwayi, a graduate of Magnet Theatre’s training programme and a member of their youth company, has already received awards at the Baxter’s Zabalaza Festival and the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards. “Exploring the repercussions on friendships when long kept secrets begin to surface, watch searing performances by both writer and performer Sibuyiselo Dywili along with new ACT graduate Siyamthanda Bangani.” Image supplied. Sponsored content.
