We took a month break after our very successful final project, "Theatre on the Move". For those that either could not attend or are unfamiliar with what this project is all about, the children wrote, set-designed, costume-designed and directed a theatrical performance entirely on their own. The play they conceived explored themes of violence, gangsterism, drugs, teenage pregnancy, multiple partners and generational conflict. They called this play 'Neighbourhood' and reflected upon it as a descriptive performance about their daily lives.
The performance was held at The New Africa Theatre to a full house on both the morning and afternoon shows. The morning show was open to family, friends and the wider public, and the afternoon show was performed to school-going children between the ages of 15 and 18. Both audiences responded positively and the children were thrilled at the reception of their performance. They said that they felt like "superstars" and were visibly moved by the comments and congratulations they received. Additionally, they gained a tidy sum of money that they wanted to use toward a celebratory party and our future camp. Half of the proceeds they divided amongst themselves and the rest they put towards their camp.
One month later, we were heading out passed Sir Lowry's Pass to Greyton for our camp. Our destination was the Blue Hippo Tipi Village. We set out in the late afternoon and arrived there in the early evening where we settled into where we would spend the next four days. Our intention for the camp was to go deeper into the emotions that the themes in the play brought about. Broadly reflecting, the next four days would be a "detox". We practiced yoga and meditation, held reflective sessions, went on walks and ate a healthy, well-balanced diet.
I had also had an idea a few months ago to create a film about the lives of the Creative Collective. They had impacted my life in so many brilliant and dynamic ways that left me wanting to create more avenues of growth and prosperity for them. I shared the idea with my sister who is a film-maker and we immediately began preparing how we could materialise this idea into reality. We weaved together a narrative to drive the film through the creative genius of my sister's mind and before we knew it, filming had commenced centering around the play, the camp and how the children wanted to develop their creativity.
Four days went by in a flash. The morning of the departure back to Cape Town crept in, in a way that felt too soon. The bus journey back was mostly in silence as we left the grand mountains and lush green hills behind us. When we arrived back in Blikkiesdorp, the children 'comedically' pretended that they didn't live there. They described their home as if they were outsiders who were observing the overwhelming poverty around them. They said, "Who lives here in such poverty?! These people are so poor"! They laughed at one another as the van came to a stop outside their tin homes, refusing to get out as they adamantly (in humour) stated that this was not where they lived.
Although they had made light of their environment on returning home, I was deeply saddened. I felt the foreboding charge present at the centre of their humour and knew it came from a total and utter dissatisfaction of their environment. I am still digesting those last few moments in the van.
We all loved the camp tremendously and it remains a stalwart guide in our journey. We wrapped up filming yesterday (5th July 2011) and hopefully with some more funding we will be able to add to what promises to be an already beautiful, engaging, and informative film.
Getting to know the children over the passed months has been an honour and is a continued pleasure.
The performance was held at The New Africa Theatre to a full house on both the morning and afternoon shows. The morning show was open to family, friends and the wider public, and the afternoon show was performed to school-going children between the ages of 15 and 18. Both audiences responded positively and the children were thrilled at the reception of their performance. They said that they felt like "superstars" and were visibly moved by the comments and congratulations they received. Additionally, they gained a tidy sum of money that they wanted to use toward a celebratory party and our future camp. Half of the proceeds they divided amongst themselves and the rest they put towards their camp.
One month later, we were heading out passed Sir Lowry's Pass to Greyton for our camp. Our destination was the Blue Hippo Tipi Village. We set out in the late afternoon and arrived there in the early evening where we settled into where we would spend the next four days. Our intention for the camp was to go deeper into the emotions that the themes in the play brought about. Broadly reflecting, the next four days would be a "detox". We practiced yoga and meditation, held reflective sessions, went on walks and ate a healthy, well-balanced diet.
I had also had an idea a few months ago to create a film about the lives of the Creative Collective. They had impacted my life in so many brilliant and dynamic ways that left me wanting to create more avenues of growth and prosperity for them. I shared the idea with my sister who is a film-maker and we immediately began preparing how we could materialise this idea into reality. We weaved together a narrative to drive the film through the creative genius of my sister's mind and before we knew it, filming had commenced centering around the play, the camp and how the children wanted to develop their creativity.
Four days went by in a flash. The morning of the departure back to Cape Town crept in, in a way that felt too soon. The bus journey back was mostly in silence as we left the grand mountains and lush green hills behind us. When we arrived back in Blikkiesdorp, the children 'comedically' pretended that they didn't live there. They described their home as if they were outsiders who were observing the overwhelming poverty around them. They said, "Who lives here in such poverty?! These people are so poor"! They laughed at one another as the van came to a stop outside their tin homes, refusing to get out as they adamantly (in humour) stated that this was not where they lived.
Although they had made light of their environment on returning home, I was deeply saddened. I felt the foreboding charge present at the centre of their humour and knew it came from a total and utter dissatisfaction of their environment. I am still digesting those last few moments in the van.
We all loved the camp tremendously and it remains a stalwart guide in our journey. We wrapped up filming yesterday (5th July 2011) and hopefully with some more funding we will be able to add to what promises to be an already beautiful, engaging, and informative film.
