Luvuyo Kakaza
When the African drum telegraphed a mystic rhythm in the Market Theatre’s foyer on May 21, it was time to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the annual FNB/Vita Market Theatre Laboratory Community Festival.
The two-week long festival gives a platform to over 30 community-theatre groups from across Southern Africa.
At the official opening Barney Simon, founder of the Market Theatre and co- founder of the Laboratory itself, was remembered
“Shine on blue sky, don’t lose your birds,” read Vanessa Cooke from a note written by the late director.
“Over the years, since my involvement at the Laboratory, I’ve regarded the Market as that blue sky and every one who comes to hone their theatrical skills are its birds,” she added. “Work produced at the Market Theatre via the Laboratory has been of national importance, setting the Market Theatre on a global map. Today I say, shine on the Market!”
Over the years the Laboratory, with its committed fieldworkers and teachers, has produced a body of plays that have become trademark proponents of workshop drama. Over the years we have seen the emergence of a new generation of playwrights, performers and directors from that turf.
One need only think of Sello Maake KaNcube’s Koze kuse Bash, Pule Hlatshwayo’s Gomorrah! and Obed Baloyi’s Ga-Mchangani – the first South African play to be performed entirely in Shagaan. All were sharpened at the Laboratory.
So today it is perfectly fitting for the Market Theatre Laboratory to be celebrating the workshop tradition. The festival offers a string of new productions, dealing with issues that are not entirely new.
Highlights of topical plays showcased at this year’s festival include Oupa Bodibe’s Anonymous, a startling one-hander that tells a tale of a street sweeper who’s tired of preaching the gospel of cleanness to aloof pedestrians. Fed up with those who urinate against public buildings and litter the city, he engages them in a cleaning spree.
The brilliance nnof the play’s ntheme and its nuniversal nnmessage nlacked the nnkind of nnnvigour it nnneeded for audiences to maintain an interest throughout the run. Unfortunately it took at least 30 minutes to get off the ground.
The Fruits of Greed, performed by Sefika High School and directed by Khotso Bulane, looked at the values of family life. A dedicated housewife raises two beautiful children while her husband takes pleasure in sleeping around with prostitutes. Family ties are broken when he discovers that he’s HIV-positive. He is faced with divorce and loses the company of his two children. The story is told through engaging dialogue with hints on sex education.
While the festival provides a unique platform for community groups to hone their skills, it also showcases work done by the Market Theatre Laboratory’s field workers. It is through the festival that city audiences can see the hard work that has gone into each production.
For instance, the Realogile High School’s production, Gushh Dishh, facilitated by budding director and Laboratory graduate Mncedisi Shabangu, was an outstanding piece of physical theatre. Using dance, music and mime, it told the story of a beautiful schoolgirl who falls in love with three boys in the same class.With Shabangu’s involvement the story is told without any hiccups.
The FNB/Vita Market Theatre Laboratory Community Festival is on at the Market Theatre Laboratory until May 28. See Theatre listings for more details