Father Sun
A family of rampant consumers are struggling with power cuts. Father Sun speaks to them with a warm voice. He shows them how they are destroying mother earth by burning the ancient sunlight of Father Sun. They learn to use reduce consumption, use renewable energy and heal mother earth before it is too late.
Father Sun is a play about energy and climate change. The sun explains how air pollution from generation of electricity and people’s day to day reliance on oil are forcing climate change upon the earth. He reasons that climate change will have a dramatic impact upon the unique biodiversity of the Cape Town metropolitan area and in turn how this will impact upon communities in the form of floods, drought; natural disasters and subsequently food and water security. The family learns about alternative energy sources (wind; wave and solar power) and how to change their daily lifestyle. Father Sun uses images music and audience participation to make the learning experience fun.
Father Sun is 45 minutes in duration and is suitable for Grades 4-9. An accompanying drama skills workshop is also available.
“Refreshing change from formal classroom teaching. We need more of this in our schools [it] is more informative.” Belhar Primary School
Created in 2008, Father Sun was rolled out as part of Climate Change and Energy Week and Marine and Climate Change Week for the City’s Youth Environmental Schools programme that year and with City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management in 2009 and 2010.
Currently starring:
Mfundo Hashe, Nimray Kruger, Unathi Speelman Vincent Meyburgh and Simric Yarrow.
Funders:
City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management (YES)
City of Cape Town Environmental Resource Management Department (YES)
Spirit of Fire and Spirit of Water
Spirit of Fire and Spirit of Water are 45 minute productions for families and communities at risk.
Spirit of Fire and Spirit of Water was developed in 2010 as part of City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management community preparedness fire and flood mitigation campaigns.
An innovative folktale delivers key seasonal risk messages through interactive drumming, hilarious local characters and a large puppet of a water/fire dragon. The performances provide communities with mitigation tools and action points for emergency procedures. The recipients of the touring outreach production are people living on the fringes of society and who are most at risk from fires and floods.
Spirit of Water was rolled out to 20 informal settlements in its first tour and a further 34 informal settlements this year
Spirit of Fire was rolled out to 20 informal settlements in 2010.
Currently starring:
Ntombifuthi Mkhasibe, Mfundo Hashe, Unathi Speelman, Simric Yarrow, Nokubonga Jita, Cebisa Fubesi and Vincent Meyburgh.
Funders:
City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management.
