Thando Doni and Theatre Arts Admin Collective present Ubuze Bam:
Ubuze Bam – Bongani Dyalivana, Eric Menyo, Lazola Sikhutshwa Photo: Sithembele Jnr
Theatre Arts Admin Collective is presenting the raw, visceral and deeply honest play – Ubuze Bam at the Cape Town Fringe Festival from the 30 September to the 5 October 2016. This production has seen successful runs at the Theatre Arts Admin Collective and the National Arts Festival earlier this year.
Ubuze Bam is the stories of four young men who are ex-offenders. The title literally means ‘my nakedness’. This is very apt as Bongani Dyalivana, Eric Menyo, Lazola Sikhutshwa and Ntsika Tyalana take the audience on a journey that is emotional and vulnerable as they lay bare different prison experiences.
The project was originally developed in consultation with the Young in Prison (YIP) entrepreneurship programme. It was an intense five week creative and rehearsal process for the post-release programme participants. It resulted in a performance that is being shared with the wider community and has become a production that has launched these young men into employment.
The director, Thando Doni, used a very organic approach as he worked with the young men. He asked questions such as “Who are you?” and “What does your name mean?” to elicit words that became sentences that became a poem. This would lead to movement and the creation of a scene.
These men may not have theatre skills but they have experiences. Through the telling of these painful but real stories we are allowed into the inner world of people who are often dismissed by society. Their humanity is reclaimed as these men are healing through the power of performance and theatre.
It is a well-known fact that performance work in prisons fast-tracks the healing process. American Hollywood actor, writer and director Tim Robbins is helping to rehabilitate offenders using commedia del’arte to enable prisoners to tap into and express the extreme emotions that are pent up within them. What has emerged from this six-year programme is that the number of prisoners re-entering the prison system post their release has been dramatically reduced.
This is a must see production for anyone who questions the power of performance and the willingness for people to change their lives if given an opportunity. Vulnerable and exposed, these men are on a journey.
Ubuze Bam is an extraordinary experience.
It is designed by emerging theatre and lighting designer Kabelo Chalatsane and directed by Thando Doni. He is the winner of the Theatre Arts Admin Collective Emerging Theatre Directors Bursary in 2012 and most recently acclaimed for his outstanding production Ityala Lamawele at Artscape in 2015.
Performances at Ithemba Labantu, New Eisleben Road, Phillippi: Tuesday 20th September @ 5pm and Wednesday 21st September @ 5pm
Performances take place City Hall 3: Friday 30th September @ 4,30pm, Saturday 1st October @ 12.30pm, Sunday 2nd October @ 2.30pm and Monday 3rd October @ 6.30pm
Performances at Guga S’thebe in Langa take place on: Tuesday 4th October @ 2pm and Wednesday 5th October @ 2pm
Bookings can be made on www.capetownfringe.co.za / 0860 002 004. Tickets cost R60.
Ubuze Bam has had extremely successful performances for young people aged 14 and older. Every performance is followed by a Q&A with the cast. This enables the audience to process the experience in a way that is both beneficial to scholars and cast. If you are interested in Ubuze Bam coming to your school to perform for Grades 9-12, please contact Caroline on 021 447 3683 / calburn@mweb.co.za
CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za.
Source: MyPR
Submit your own Press Release or get free content for your publication.
Video – How to post your Press Release on MyPR:
My Press Release (MyPR) provides free South African targeted content and press releases for on and off line publishers and media. Registering on MyPR enables public relations companies and practitioners to post articles under their own author name. Public Relations Companies and practitioners, event organisers, sports and political writers use MyPR as a distribution mechanism for their press releases, content, images and news. A forever free subscription allows publishers and media free access to all press releases, content and images on MyPR.
This press release is courtesy of WP Robot plugin – CLICK HERE to learn more about WP Robot for WordPress – a massive time and money saver.
