A theatre production that is the first of its kind for the Franschhoek Valley will be showcased tonight (20 October) at the Bridge House theatre.
The production, entitled uSimphiwe, was written by learners and teachers of eight schools in Franchhoek. What makes this production so significant is that it was written in isiXhosa, English and Afrikaans.
The eight schools that are involved form part of the local non-profit organisation Bhabhathane, which focuses on teacher and learner enrichment in the Franschhoek Valley. They are Groendal High School, Franschhoek High School, Dalubuhle Primary School, Bridge House School, Groendal Primary School, The Kusasa Project, Wes-Eind Primary School and Wemmershoek Primary School.
Bruce Blaine, a teacher at Bridge House who is involved in the production, explained: “This is a drama production. It delves into the often unspoken elements of microaggressions in schools, while also challenging the status quo of stereotype through humour. Ultimately, the production itself is just the final element of the whole project. The main aim was to get all the schools working towards one goal, ensuring we were empowering students and teachers along the way. This would be through learning about theatre, doing stage make-up or the opportunity to perform before an audience.”
The production follows the life of a boy called Simphiwe. Blaine says the fictional character is someone whom many South Africans can relate to.
“In the story he is an orphan who is lured to a wealthy private school, where he is offered free food and accommodation, among other things, in exchange for his doing ballet. He is very good at it, but is never allowed to divert from it. He then meets another learner who is a musician and, after a conversation about their experiences at the school, he rediscovers his identity through dance.”
Tickets are pre-sold at R40 at any of the participating schools and will not be available at the door.
They can also be bought from Trifena Jefthas, Bhabhathane programme coordinator. Email trifena.bhabhathane@gmail.com.
