Hoerikwaggo
An extraordinary story about two teenage baboons who rescue a human baby from a fire at Cape Point. The troop’s alpha male sends the baboons on a mission to find the baby’s parents. A mysterious old woman turns herself into a seagull and leads them on a hilarious comedy adventure all the way to Table Mountain.
Hoerikwaggo is a fun; interactive, educational play focusing on the importance of the Table Mountain range as an example of biodiversity. The play concentrates on the natural environment with particular focus on indigenous flora, the diversity of animal life and broaches: fire prevention; baboon management; protection of species; fynbos and biodiversity awareness; the importance of alien clearing and cultural heritage. Hoerikwaggo is a trilingual production that draws on local archetypes and characters and uses comedy; song; dance and audience interaction to provide engaging education.
Hoerikwaggo is 45 minutes in duration and is suitable for Grades 4-9. An accompanying drama skills workshop of 45 minutes is also available.
“This programme ‘brought the Park to us’ learners learn sounds & movements of animals.” Sentinel Primary School
Hoerikwaggo was created in 2005 in conjunction with Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) educators to develop a curriculum relevant show and workshop for the intermediate phase. The play has toured schools and the National Arts Festival and was incorporated into TMNP ‘Kids In Parks’ schools outreach programme in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010. Hoerikwaggo was performed for Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden’s Biodiversity Expo in 2010 and 2011. It is currently being developed as a comic book by TMNP.
Currently starring:
Ntombifuthi Mkhasibe; Mfundo Hashe and Vincent Meyburgh.
Funders:
City of Cape Town Environmental Resource Management Department
The DG Murray Trust
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
GrandWest Cape Culture and Heritage Foundation
Joan Leger Lindbergh Charitable Trust
KPMG
Table Mountain National Park
Tallberg Foundation
Indlovu People
Kama Indlovu holds the key to the elephant world. He discovers three very different children fighting about elephants. !Kama takes them on a journey into the mysterious origins of Indlovu People. They get involved in magical puppetry, catchy music and comedy. Their relationship with these majestic creatures is changed forever.
Indlovu People reflects upon the history and interactions between humans and wild animals in man’s quest to dominate the earth. It reveals a chain of events that has created an issue of elephant overcrowding in Kruger National Park and the effects of enclosing wild animals in nature reserves. Indlovu People considers the range of elephant management options put forward by stakeholders and asks the audience to form their own opinion about this ‘problem species’.
Indlovu People is 45 minutes in duration and is suitable for Grades 4-9. An accompanying drama skills workshop is also available.
“This show shows the importance of understanding what is important to other people, their needs & wants. Any effort made to change this is extremely laudable.” Parkvale Primary School
Indlovu People was commissioned by International Fund for Animal Welfare in 2008 as part of their Elephants Secure Habitats programme to raise awareness about issues surrounding elephant management in Southern Africa. The play was created under the direction of Stuart Palmer for schools’ twinnings run at the Baxter Theatre in May 2009. Heather Mac joined the team as guest director for a public performance in 2009 and under her direction the play has been adapted and ran at Out The Box festival and National Arts Festival in 2010 where it was part of the Cape Town Edge programme. A reduced play of 25 mins was performed at Voorkamerfest programme in September last year.
Currently starring:
Vincent Meyburgh, Ntombifuthi Mkhasibe, Mfundo Hashe and Nimray Kruger.
Funders:
Cape Tercentenary Foundation
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
International Fund for Animal Welfare
National Arts Council
Voorkamerfest
Jungle Jive
Sometime in the future the earth is one mega city ruled by Robot. The last tree on earth is captured by Robot’s slaves and locked in a tower. The Jungle Spirit is dying. Her last hope is to appear in the dreams of ordinary people.
A story teller uses traditional Xhosa intsomi technique to convey a tale about the importance of trees and urban greening for the wellbeing of all. With nature and wilderness being the source of inspiration for art and music, different cultural styles are made accessible through the disciplines of music; mime; puppetry and storytelling evoking the feeling of freedom and developing the imagination
The audience takes part in creating the event as well as being directly involved in the action of planting a tree – a living memory of the event and the responsibility of its survival handed to the community.
Jungle Jive is 45 minutes in duration and is suitable for Grades 4-9. It is accompanied by a tree planting and a drama workshop is also available.
“Dynamic show with professional performers, learners were given an exposure to the theatre etiquette.” Zonnebloem Boy’s School
Jungle Jive was created in 2001 and rolled as a sub-autonomous project with Abalimi Bezekhaya between 2002 and 2003 to over 40 schools and communities. Jungle Jive continued to tour schools in 2005 with continuation funding. The play was revived by the 2007 trainee team and was performed for the Youth Environmental Schools’ Arbor Weeks in 2007 and 2008 and toured extensively in the presidential poverty nodes of Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain in 2008.
Funders:
Abalimi Bezekhaya (The Green Trust and WWF)
Cape Tercentenary Foundation
City of Cape Town Environmental Resource Management Department
Golden Arrow Foundation
JDI Group
Joan St Leger Lindbergh Charitable Trust
National Arts Council
Spilhaus
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Metamorphosis
A surreal outdoor performance with characters who dance a story of a neglected and pained child. Hiding in a tree house and crying herself to sleep, the child dreams about the sounds of her garden, which turn into music. She dreams of two old giant butterflies dancing a dance of love. The male catches the pregnant female’s eggs and hangs them on a leaf where they hatch and grow into giant caterpillars. A hungry black crow is hunting and the haunted girl wakes up inside her dream to challenge the predator and protect the miracle of life.
Metamorphosis is a larger than life production which brings elements of street theatre including stilt walking, dance, music and audience participation. The story follows the journey of metamorphosis of a butterfly from egg, through lava and pupa to adult and broaches big transformation in our own lives.
Metamorphosis is 45 minutes in duration and is fun for the whole family.
“I just loved the metaphor, and saw many layers to it as the play unfolded. We could all do with a lot more change in our lives.” R McLeod
Metamorphosis is the creation of Jungle Theatre Company’s (JTC) Laduma Jungle team and being developed as the final part of a National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund funded trained programme. Directed by JTC’s Artistic Director Vincent Meyburgh and Designer Monique Fagan of Junkanew. Through the actors’ involvement in choreography, writing, composing, designing and making, Metamorphosis fosters a closer link between the actors’ experience, characters’ stories, the music and creation of images. The production was performed as community event at the start of the school holidays in December 2011.
Currently starring: Cebisa Fubesi; Siyawandisa Badi; Vuyolwethu Stuurman; Candice Waries; Stacey Francke; Athenkosi Dyantyi; Nokubonga Jita and Seyiso Qhola.
Funders:
National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund
Moon In The Sky
A magical story told through music, images and clowning. Three very different characters discover the moon has fallen out of the sky. The audience helps them tell the story by learning songs and dances that symbolize the four elements. Can everybody get involved and restore the balance of nature?
A play about the strength of diversity, Moon In The Sky is an interactive play that involves the audience from the outset and requires the audience to facilitate the storytelling. Themes of intercultural communication and environmental awareness are explored on this symbolic journey of three characters, which are very different in many ways. A cast of 3 actors, from culturally diverse communities, uses visual theatre, puppetry; movement; mime; music; clowning and a mixture of languages.
Moon In The Sky is 1 hour in duration and is suitable for Grades 2-7
“The children thoroughly enjoyed this interactive, musical show. Well worth it. One child said it was the best show they had seen.” Bay Primary School
Moon In The Sky was workshopped by Jungle Theatre Company under the direction of Jaqueline Dommisse in 2007 with two trainees from the initial young actor training programme Unathi Speelman and Marika Williams. It premiered at Out The Box festival under its working title One the same year and returned as Moon In The Sky in 2008. The play was also rolled out as a twinnings intervention for schools in the South peninsula and Cape Flats at the Masque Theatre Muizenberg as well as community performances in the local informal settlement Vrygrond at the newly built Capricorn Primary School.
Funders:
Cape Tercentenary Foundation
Consulate General Netherlands
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
National Arts Council
Umlambo Wobomi /River of Life
Umlambo Wobomi /River Of Life is an African fairy tale about a rural tribe and a special princess, who live by a beautiful river full of magical creatures. A glittering dancing trader comes from the city to sell the villagers strange items that cause problems for the river. The princess, tasked with solving the problem, goes on an adventure through a parched desert an enchanted forest and up a mighty mountain. She learns to speak the language of the river creatures in order to save the river for all.
Umlambo Wobomi /River Of Life is a musical, physical, interactive production that takes learners on a journey of discovery beginning with water cycle and teaching about key issues such as water quality and pollution, water security and the important role that communities play in protecting this precious resource.
Umlambo Wobomi /River Of Life is 40 minutes in duration and is best suited for Grades 4-7.
“It had an excellent message, preservation and conservation of water is very important, thank you for a fantastic presentation and message.” Kleinberg Primary
Umlambo Wobomi /River Of Life was created by the Laduma Jungle trainees as part of a 2 year skills development and job creation programme Laduma Jungle Training, funded by National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund. This is the first production workshopped by the young team that come from Ocean View, Langa and Khayelitsha. The play was directed by Vincent Meyburgh with assistance from Nimray Kruger and Mfundo Hashe. It was first performed for the City of Cape Town’s National Water Week programme at Ratanga Junction in March 2011 and went onto a public run at the Masque Theatre in July. It was included in the Harlequin Foundation’s eMzantsi primary schools twinning programme as well as touring underprivileged schools in other communities in Cape Town.
Currently starring: Stacey Francke; Cebisa Fubesi; Athenkosi Dyantyi and Seyiso Qhola.
Funders:
City of Cape Town Water and Sanitation Department
Harlequin Foundation
National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund
Vinnie From Zok
A hilarious one man show that gets the audience involved every step of the way. Vinnie is from planet Zok and needs help to get back home. He gets the children to help him to juggle, make music and ride a one wheel bike. Vinnie learns so much about planet Earth, in the end he wants to stay.
Vinnie comes down to earth to share his magic and to learn about different cultures. The show uses innovative puppetry, unique juggling tricks, original music, physical comedy and audience participation to entertain, inspire and enlighten earthlings. Vinnie From Zok encourages people to take part in the show and learn about different levels of communication in a multi-cultural society. Learning about different cultures is fun! It also inspires them to learn the different skills that Vinnie uses in his show including juggling and drumming.
Vinnie From Zok is 45 minutes long and suitable for Grades R-3
“It was fantastic. The children loved it, Vinnie was great.” Synergy School
The one-man show Vinnie From Zok was created and performed in 2000, thanks to funding from the Consulate General Netherlands. It was performed all over Cape Town metropolitan area and received a great response from audiences in Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Langa. The play was also taken to audiences in the Netherlands and has most recently been performed at the Muizenberg Community Festival, Synergy School, Soetwater Environmental Education Centre, Planet Kids and Red Cross Children’s Hospital.
Starring:
Vincent Meyburgh
Funders:
City of Cape Town Environmental Resource Management Department
Consulate General Netherlands
Muizenberg Community Festival
NOW Project
Soetwater Environmental Education Centre
