The Runaway Bunni Theatre Collective is in the process of producing a piece called Passages written by Emma Lungisway de Wet – and they're looking for local talent.
The Runaway Bunni Theatre Collective is in the process of producing a piece called Passages written by Emma Lungisway de Wet – and they're looking for local talent.
“We really want to open up the scope for the community to get involved and we are looking for local talent to be cast in the piece,” said Robert Haxton, the founder of the collective.
The Runaway Bunni Theatre Collective is a non-profit organisation started by Haxton in 2009 and comprises Rhodes alumni and students who want to create a collaborative network of artists all over South Africa.
“We want to establish programmes run by the Bunni collective in different towns. We don’t just want to be based in one place,” Haxton said.
He explains that his organisation will promote reading and writing in any South African language through theatre.
The collective will use applied theatre practices which focus on getting people to express themselves.
“The possibilities are nearly endless in terms of writing – learners could come up with poetry, play scripts, ideas for novels, short stories, abstract writing, and journaling. The aim is to get people to write more and to find the enjoyment in the prospect of writing,” said Haxton.
He started the collective when he was still working for UBOM! Eastern Cape Theatre Company and First Physical Theatre company.
It was then that he realised how important community development is.
“UBOM! serves as an inspirational model for the collective and we need to utilise the skills that we have and spread them as far as we can,” he said.
“We want to offer something else and that is a focus on developing interesting, inspired and effective writing among the youth.”
A small organisation that is still finding its feet, the collective has nevertheless produced acclaimed pieces such as Cracks (2009), Rubber (2010), Dogyard (2012) and Wintersweet.
Wintersweet received a Standard Bank Encore Ovation Award for Excellence last year.
According to Haxton, 2013 is a developmental year, while next year will be for showcasing their collaborative pieces.
Anyone can get involved in the collective.
What Haxton and his fellow artists want to convey is that, “artists need to stop thinking that they’re all alone in trying to make their art a success or a ‘something’ .
"Instead let’s all work with each other because we have a wealth of talent at our disposal.”
For more information on The Runaway Bunni Theatre Collective, call 083 437 34 59 or email Robert Haxton at toxic623@gmail.com.
