Return to township community theatre

The festival will fan out across Johannesburg, Motsweding, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and the West Rand in a quest to bring community theatre out of the shadows and into the limelight once again. The project has been made possible thanks to the support of the Gauteng Provincial Government, which has identified the precincts that would most benefit from a flourishing grass-roots theatre industry.

The festival was born out of the realisation that there are still too few formal performance spaces available to artists in township areas, explained SATI's executive director, Mpho Molepo.

To revive the once-popular culture

"The question of infrastructure remains a problem area - venues exist mainly in cities and our communities do not boast centres of excellence," he said. "The Alternative Spaces project is designed to revive the once-popular culture of theatre performances in community halls and churches that was pioneered by the likes of Gibson Kente, the godfather of township community theatre."

The project seeks to assist community theatre groups and companies in understanding the business of theatre, in order to make a sustainable living from the performing arts and to develop the audiences of the future.

In addition to teaching practitioners how to package, market and sell their theatre or dance "product", Alternative Spaces will create a platform for them to share and expose their stage productions to the public and to producers.

Stepped up a gear

Following last year's pilot phase of the project, the initiative will now be stepped up a gear. In June and July, SATI will be visiting various townships across Gauteng, where community theatre groups will be given a platform to perform their work. Audiences will have the opportunity to witness this dynamic, grass-roots form of live performance, tackling issues relevant to their lives.

Every Saturday at 2pm, from 12 June to 3 July, 2010, audiences can see a selection of plays for free at the following venues: Masibambane College in Orange Farm (Joburg), Mpatlalantsane Theatre in Sebokeng (Sedibeng), KT Motubatsi Theatre In Soshanguve (Tshwane), Katlehong Arts Centre in Katlehong (Ekurhuleni), Mohlakeng Recreation Centre in Mohlakeng (West Rand), and TKO Enkangala Theatre in Enkangala (Metsweding).

The plays

The community plays that will be touring the province are:

• Awaiting Trial, by Fiki "Ntshebe" Mhlambi: This physical play is a thought-provoking piece about three men who are in purgatory (life after death) waiting to attend their trial.
  
• Tick-Tock: This poetic drama piece is based on a woman's life from birth till death. The female protagonist goes the challenges of love, trust, growth and self-worth.
  
• Fruit, written and directed by Paul Noko: A young girl runs out of a burning house, sparking off a tale of mystery and horror.
  
• Cell No. 4: Two prisoners - Justice and Rambo - are forced into a single cell, and relate stories of their criminal lives, families and communities.
  
• Madi, written and directed by Mike Makou: In this Tswana/English play, burning issues such as child abuse, rape and HIV/ AIDS are dealt with through lightness, humour and the innocent perspectives of children.
  
• Late: This is a story about two men discussing the World Cup, its importance, expectations, gains and losses - on and off the playing field.
  
• Native Power Stone: A play rooted in indigenous themes, about a drum (Moropa) that forms the centre of a leadership dispute in a village.
  
• Thirteen, written and directed by Mncedisi Shabangu: Based on real events, this play explores the fate of a young woman whose fiancé dies before paying lobola, and the two families decide to marry her off to his younger brother instead.
  
• Motswako/Still My Views, directed by Abbey Maeane: This play attempts to unpack the social problem of abuse in relation to a modern lifestyle.
  
• My Alex: A musical production that tells the history of the African cultures - including dancing, poetry, drumming and theatre - within Alexandra.
  
• Sesi Daar (We Are There) 2010, co-written by Jerry Zwane and Vusi Lushaba, and directed by Jerry Bongani Zwane: This poetic tale features 25 young community artists portraying two football teams in the first game of the 2010 World Cup.
  
• Females, directed by Lebeko Nketo: A township play about the disappearance of a notorious thug.
  
• Labour of Love, written and directed by Nomthandazo Hlongwane: This play tells a tale of rural life, royalty and heartbreak.
  
• Sharpeville Shooting: This play retells the events of 21 March, 1960, the fateful day when the Sharpeville Massacre took place.
  
• Positive Thinking: A play dealing frankly with issues such as HIV/AIDS, drug abuse and physical abuse.

To find out more or to book tickets, phone SATI at +27 (0)11 838 8932 or email az.gro.itas@ofni, citing the Alternative Spaces project.