Ubom! Eastern Cape Theatre Company is currently working on a new family theatre production involving the Eastern Cape’s history, ecology and culture to be performed at this year’s Grahamstown National Arts Festival.
Ubom! Eastern Cape Theatre Company is currently working on a new family theatre production involving the Eastern Cape’s history, ecology and culture to be performed at this year’s Grahamstown National Arts Festival.
Directed by Ubom! veteran, Andrew Buckland and Noxolo Donyeli, The Wangai is a play based on the classic Dr Seuss tale, The Lorax, and draws inspiration from the Greenbelt Movement of Kenyan environmentalist, Wangari Maathai.
Centred on ‘one guy’, the play finds its Eastern Cape roots by looking at deforestation and our negative impact on the environment, specifically dealing with issues of land, in Grahamstown.
The Wangai follows the story of a young entrepreneur, played by Ayanda Nondlwana, who comes to the Eastern Cape determined to better his life, but blatantly ignorant about the environment.
Sibongiseni Ntshebe plays the Wangai, who decides to take a stand against the possible extinction of trees and ends up inspiring everyone to do the same.
“Although it is a cautionary tale, the work is created to be accessed and enjoyed by children and adults from the wide range of cultural backgrounds which the Eastern Cape is home to,” said Buckland.
The timing of this production is appropriate given that it is being performed soon after two environmental landmark days.
On 8 June, people in communities around the globe will celebrate this year’s World Oceans Day with the theme of “Together we have the power to protect the ocean.”
Yesterday, 5 June, was World Environment Day (WED), the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment.
