Artscape's happy 10th anniversary
Last night's celebration of Artscape's 10th anniversary was a real feel-good event. Feel good because the theatre was packed. Feel good because of the wonderful diversity of the 25 acts. Feel good because of the talent and skill that we have. Feel good because technically it all worked beautifully - lighting, backdrops, stages gliding up and down. And we left feeling very good because, for the finale, we all stood up and kind of danced and sang with Sibongile Khumalo leading us and the full cast packing the stage, while cascades of shiny foil fluttered down on us.
The director of the celebration was Paul Warwick Griffin. Musical director was Janine Neethling, who also provided piano accompaniment for some items. The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Richard Cock, provided a solid and sensitive foundation for many of the performances.
There were many inspired combinations, such as the opening scene while the praise poet had taken centre stage after a kudu horn fanfare. Then the curtains parted and a classical ballet dancer held a pose while the praise poet continued his exhortations. That set the scene for other unlikely, but beautiful combinations. My favourite combination was Sibongile Khumalo singing the beautiful traditional Lomathafa while male dancers from Jazzart Dance Theatre perfomed single sets of such grace, strength and beauty, that it hardly seemed possible. The Zip Zap Circus provided breathtaking trapeze acts in combination with Kritiyan Chernev's cello rendition of Bach suites, also above the choral arrangement of The Mission, and while Laurica Rauch sang Kinders van die Wind with African Chord Melodies.
Part of the feel-good quality was because of the popular and accessible nature of the acts, but for me that was exactly what a celebration of this kind required. And it was wonderful to have music - traditional, opera, jazz, musicals. And it was wonderful to have dance - classical ballet, Indian dance, Jazzart dance - and the incredible trapeze movements of the Zip Zap circus artists. And it was wonderful to have singing - the rich voices of Sibongile Khumalo and Sibongile Mngoma, Emo Adams, Tina Schouw, Voice of the Nation Ensemble, African Chord Melodies.
Happy 10th birthday, Artscape. May you continue to inspire the talent and creativity that we want to see.
