Shark Dreams
Copyright Lesley Rochat
A girl discovers a world under the sea: Riding on the spotty whale shark, chatting with the clever hammer head and singing with the colourful cat shark. Danger lurks around every corner and she learns some secrets of the deep.
Partly based on Lesley Rochat’s ‘Sue Finds Happy Eddie the Shy Shark’, Shark Dreams tells a local tale about a girl whose love for the sea takes her on a magical shark adventure. Shark Dreams showcases the many different types of sharks and educates young people about ocean and beach safety including: the role of the shark spotters in protecting beach goers; the meaning of the flags on the beaches; critical safety tips when swimming and using the beach. The play creates understanding and awareness about the important role sharks play in marine ecosystems and the food chain and dispels myths created through misinformation and hearsay.
Shark Dreams is 45 minutes in duration and is suitable for Grades 4-9
“Exquisite costumes and brilliant acting skills.” Strand Moslem School
Shark Dreams was created in 2009 in conjunction with the Save Our Seas Shark Centre for City of Cape Town’s Environmental Resource Management Department’s Youth Environmental Schools (YES) programme. Shark Dreams was rolled out as an outreach programme to schools in Cape Town’s south peninsula; performed for World Environment Week and Marine Week in 2009 as well as the Blue Flag Beach campaign in 2010. The AfriOceans Conservation Alliance has also provided funding for community and schools outreach performances. Shark Dreams has also been performed at the Marine and Coastal Educators Network conferences where it received a standing ovation.
Currently starring:
Nimray Kruger, Unathi Speelman, Simric Yarrow and Vincent Meyburgh.
Funders:
AfriOceans Conservation Alliance
City of Cape Town’s Environmental Resource Management Department (YES)
Department of Environmental Affairs & Development Planning (YES)
The Whale Show
The Wondering Whale Watchers are characters on a quest to become like whales with hilarious consequences. They swirl the audience into a high-energy comedy adventure juggling to catch food, bubbling under-water music, receiving e-whales from a giant puppet called Wanda.
The Whale Show is a family production that uses a large puppet to enlighten and entertain the audience about whales. The two protagonists have spent so much time with whales they behave just like them and even speak whale language, sharing their awe and wonder of these magical creatures. Themes include similarities and differences between whales and humans, threats to whales and whale facts and figures. The audience is encouraged to think critically about their values and the importance of whale conservation when the audience is invited to stop the giant harpoon.
The Whale Show is 45 minutes in duration and is suitable for Grades 2-7
An accompanying drama skills workshop of 45 minutes is also available.
“Energetic and cleverly crafted, containing powerful pertinent messages.” Knysna News 2008
After a 3 year hiatus The Whale Show, based on Heathcote Williams’ ‘Whale Nation’, returned to the stage this year. Created in 2001, the play has toured the National Arts Festival; Out The box festival,the Whale Festival in Hermanus; and numerous schools as part of International Fund for Animal Welfare’s (IFAW) outreach education and awareness campaigns including ‘twinnings’ performances with underprivileged and privileged schools. It has also been included in the City of Cape Town’s Youth Environmental Schools programme for Marine Week and enjoyed successful public runs in Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Muizenberg in 2008.
Currently starring:
Unathi Speelman and Vincent Meyburgh.
Funders:
City of Cape Town Environmental Resource Management Department (YES)
Department of Environmental Affairs & Development Planning (YES)
International Fund for Animal Welfare
L & S Chiappini Charitable Trust
Rolf-Stephan Nussbaum Foundation
Pick Up Litter Parade
Giant sea creatures made from litter float on drumming sounds. They dance on the beach and a crowd of people gather around them. A great ball of litter floats into the giant jaws of a shark. The shark is choking. Children pull the litter ball out. Free the sea! Pick up litter!
Pick Up Litter Parade is an opportunity for people of all ages to join in with positive environmental action whilst enjoying entertainment during the school holidays. Located on the beach Jungle Theatre Company teams up with local musicians and organisations for a short show about the effects of litter on sea creatures and an interactive environmental parade. Families and groups are welcome to join in this event which combines street theatre and carnival encouraging the public to participate in the action.
Pick Up Litter Parade is approximately 1 hour in duration and is suitable for all ages.
The first Pick Up Litter Parade took place on Muizenberg beach in December 2008 and showcased three large puppets made by local schools Muizenberg Junior, Levana Primary and Zerilda Park Primary. Along with musicians, the event attracted local residents, tourists and beach goers as well as some of the school learners and teachers who had been involved in the creation of the puppets. In 2009 other organisations came on board and JTC created a short play about marine and coastal pollution to highlight the danger or litter and waste before embarking on the beach cleanup parade. Local businesses provided prizes for litter collection competitions and the event was a roaring success. In 2010 the Laduma Jungle Trainees created their own litter performances on beaches in Kalk Bay and St James and JTC teamed up with Safer Together’s Moonlight Meander in Muizenberg.
Funders:
BJK Industries
City of Cape Town – Economic, Social Development and Tourism – Arts and Culture Unit
Country Lane Developments
HCI Foundation
Kalk Bay and St James Residents and Ratepayers Association
Individual Donors
Plastics Federation of South Africa
Safer Together
St Willibrordus School and partners
