The UBOM! Eastern Cape Theatre Company will be going on the road in mid-October with its two Project 200 performances that look at Grahamstown's history from unique perspectives.
The UBOM! Eastern Cape Theatre Company will be going on the road in mid-October with its two Project 200 performances that look at Grahamstown's history from unique perspectives.
'Makana- The Missing Lynx' explore our the troubled history through the lens of war and conflict. It will be going on a Cradock tour starting 19 October. The other production, 'Eco-Wolf and The Three Pigs', takes a satirical look at our environment beginning 18 October at Tarkastad High, near Queenstown, Sosebenza, the following day and Cintsa West in East London 20-21 October.
The performances have been a hit with thousands of schoolchildren from all parts of Grahamstown. The project's aim was to interrogate the past and celebrate the future of Makana Municipality, said UBOM! artistic director Janet Buckland.
"Our history is a hard and painful one, but it is a history we can't ignore, so finding an aspect of it that we can understand and celebrate is a wonderful thing."
Lynx, performed by Ubom's Ubutsha project which includes about 15 unemployed performers, five of whom were former prisoners, tells its story through song, dance and isiXhosa stories. It has been performed in townships, Fingo Village, Rhodes University and at various schools.
Moreover, the Rhodes drama department sponsored Eco Wolf at the Box Theatre in May and reached 3 000 school children from Grahamstown East and West. "The aim of the play was to spread the message of work, trade and the environment," Buckland said.
It took a satirical look at Eco-Wolf, who is forced to save his beautiful valley from the three unscrupulous Pigs who threaten to ruin it forever with their pollution and corruption.
In true Ubom! style, the production was used to educate young people on the importance of eco– friendliness. In addition, Ubom! incorporated re-using and recycling in the production of the Eco-wolf set.
"We wanted to show this play to the young kids and people who would normally not have access to theatre pieces," Buckland said. I know there is a hunger from townships, a hunger that values and want a bit of entertainment.
On Project 200 celebrations in general, Buckland said: "This is a fabulous initiative, and the project made the right impact on the right audiences. I am glad there was no big dinner or a big splash for the celebration.The Municipality supported local initiatives and that has made it an exciting year for a lot of people."
