Sifiso Maseko The festival circuit
The word going around is that theatre is dead. What has really died, however, is protest theatre. But while stage practitioners seem to lack direction and the ability to formulate a contemporary enthusiasm that was heightened in protest theatre, all is not lost.
The good news is that street theatre, as embodied in the Arts Alive international street festival held in the Market Theatre cultural precinct, revives the tradition of taking theatre to the people.
Any environment, including pedestrian spaces, becomes a readymade theatre. And any work is transportable and technically self-sufficient. It gets better.
Performers share knowledge through workshops and collaboration with artists of varying disciplines, making sure style takes root. Highlights of this years festival included the homegrown A1 Tam tam from the Netherlands, Archa Theatre from the Czech Republic and Kneehigh Theatre from Cornwall in England.
All presented their work around Gauteng before the mama of all grand finales on September 27 with storytelling, magicians, toyi-toying puppets, exotic music, live sculptures, edutainment and the magnificent sun. Clearly it was not theatre as we know it; nor was it culture-specific.
Maybe the way to save theatre is to take note of our attitude. Are you ready for the revolution?