Cape Town Fringe draws in young audiences

Fringe festivals the world over pride themselves in reaching younger audiences than those who traditionally frequent theatres – and the Cape Town Fringe, now on in the Mother City, has made a concerted effort to draw youth into the theatre with a carefully designed day programme for schools.

Each day this week, learners from Cape Town’s schools – from Jo’s School for Vulnerable Children in Vrygrond to Harold Cressy High School in Zonnebloem – have been given “a completely immersive experience that has included quality theatre, graffiti art workshops, puppetry and magic”, says Festival CEO Tony Lankester.

The inaugural festival, which runs in the Mother City until 5 October, is being produced by the Grahamstown National Arts Festival team, and is supported by the City of Cape Town and Standard Bank.

The schools programme has received an enthusiastic response from learners and educators alike.

“This has been the best day of my life,” a Grade 7 learner from Battswood Arts Centre in Grassy Park exclaimed after visiting the fringe on Monday.

“It is gratifying and encouraging to know that a festival that celebrates creativity in our city has looked to its community first – and cares enough to encourage and equip the next generation of makers and audiences to excel beyond their circumstances,” wrote Kapil Misra, the centre’s principal, and drama teachers Sheldon Cross and Penny Youngleson in a letter to thank the organisers.

“You have completely changed 180 learners and 20 educators’ experience of performance – and expectations of achievement. And that is no small thing.”

The programme includes workshops and shows specifically targeted at engaging children of various age groups. A workshop run by physical theatre master Richard Antrobus, for example, introduced learners to techniques used in both classic and graphic mime through imagination, exploration and play.

“Arts and culture is all about innovation, entertainment, recreation, inspiration; it makes us laugh and cry and it gives us hope,” Roxanne Hoorn, chair of the City’s tourism, events and marketing portfolio, told learners attending shows and workshops at City Hall on Wednesday. “It gives us the opportunity to express ourselves and to tell our stories – who we are and what drives us. It’s a passion!”

Hoorn said the City supported the schools programme as “an opportunity and a stepping stone” to help make learners aware of “the many exciting opportunities” created through Cape Town’s support of the arts and culture industry.

“Be your best, tell your story, love who you are – and go out there and make your mark,” she told children from Capricorn Primary in Lavender Hill and Dietrich Moravian Primary School in Phillipi.

M-Net, who provided sponsorship for the schools programme, said it regarded its involvement with arts and culture not just as an investment in South Africa, but also as a legacy for future generations of South Africans.

M-Net’s sponsorship is aligned with its objective of exposing young people to the film and television industry, which is central to Magic in Motion, M-Net’s new corporate social investment initiative.

“For over 25 years M-Net has been an ardent supporter of arts and culture in South Africa, and is in the unique position of providing a showcase for the best in arts, culture and entertainment – both local and international,” said Kershnee Govender, M-Net’s Corporate Affairs Director. “We are pleased to be able to play a role in the success of this, the first Cape Town Fringe Festival.”

The joy of experiencing live theatre helps stimulate cognitive development, independent thought and social transformation, says Yvette Hardie, the director of ASSITEJ SA, the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People.

ASSITEJ SA, which has curated 11 productions as part of the festival’s family and schools platform, provided sponsorship to allow children to attend as part of their “Take a Child to the Theatre Today” programme.

Productions on the schools’ programme include Patchwork, which is aimed at very young children, Get Kraken, written by Jon Keevy and aimed at children over eight, as well as Foursight by Kate Liquorish, a powerful piece for teens.

Also on the ASSITEJ school’s programme is Nkosinathi Gaar’s abridged version of Macbeth, which makes use of a variety of theatrical techniques. Gaar was on hand this week to lead discussions with learners after they had watched the Shakespearean play.

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS, including contact details:
South Peninsula High School: John Jusa 084 811 8633
Windsor High School: Lesley Mally 083 230 7415
Groenvlei High School: Godfrey Hendrickse 021 703 2227
Harold Cressy High School, Zonneblom: Khalied Isaacs 079 146 6433
Battswood School of Arts (comprising various schools from Grassy Park): Penny Youngleson 083 3788 360
Jo’s School for Vulnerable Children, Vrygrond: Yvette Hardie 082 859 8635
WD Hendricks Primary School, Kensington: Graham Swartz 021 593 1810
Capricorn Primary School, Lavender Hill: Yvette Hardie 082 859 8635
Dietrich Moravian Primary School, Phillipi: Yvette Hardie 082 859 8635
Uitsig Primary School, Uitsig: Hermanus Mouwers 082 715 6038
Oude Molen Technical School, Pinelands: Tony Marshall 082 577 1209
Thembani Primary School, Khayelitsha: Thobela Guzana 082 647 1023
Dietrich Moravian Primary School, Phillipi: Yvette Hardie 082 859 8635
Uitsig Primary School, Uitsig: Hermanus Mouwers 082 715 6038
Oude Molen Technical School, Pinelands: Tony Marshall 082 577 1209
Thembani Primary School, Khayelitsha: Thobela Guzana 082 647 1023

NOTES TO EDITORS
The Cape Town Fringe festival runs from 25 September until 5 October in various venues across Cape Town. A total of 100 productions make up the core Fringe programme. The full programme is available online at www.capetownfringe.co.za.
The Fringe is being produced by the Grahamstown National Arts Festival team, and is supported by the City of Cape Town and Standard Bank. 567 Cape Talk and MNet are media partners.
For more information, visit www.capetownfringe.co.za; email info@capetownfringe.co.za; or call the festival hotline: 060 948 2706.
TO BOOK
Online: www.capetownfringe.co.za

TO BOOK
• Online: www.capetownfringe.co.za
• By phone: 086 000 2004
• By fax: 086 233 2122
• By email: boxoffice@capetownfringe.co.za
• In person: Fringe Box Office in the City Hall
SOCIAL MEDIA
• Follow us on Twitter: @CTFringe
• Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CapeTownFringe

Author: Gilly Hemphill from The Famous Idea.
More Info link: https://capetownfringe.co.za/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefamousidea
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Famous-Idea-Trading-Company/180925875271091?ref=hl
Images: For high res version/s of One image/s please contact: The Famous Idea.

Penny Youngleson, a drama teacher at the Battswood Arts Centre in Grassy Park, Roxanne Hoorn, the chair of the City of Cape Town’s Tourism, Events and Marketing portfolio; Nadia Woodward from ASSITEJ SA with learners from Capricorn Primary in Lavender Hill and Dietrich Moravian Primary School in Phillipi.

CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za.