Theatre Nights in Alexandra will begin with screenings of South African movies at King Cinema in the suburb, before the plays begin. A series of dramas are planned.
ACTORS in Alexandra are hard at work polishing their skills ahead of the annual Theatre Nights.
ZaneleZanele Mthembu, eager to make her mark in the theatre industryThis year, the events will be held over two evenings – on 9 and 10 September – at the Thusong Youth Centre.
The theatre nights are hosted by the Twilight Organisation in Alexandra and are affiliated to Joburg International Arts Alive. The programme was established in 2007 to develop the performing arts in Alex and expose residents to the theatre.
Before the event starts on Friday, there will be a curtain raiser film festival at King Cinema in Alexandra, where a series of local films will be screened from 2pm to 6pm.
Then, from 6pm, Theatre Nights will officially open with a play entitled Baby Shower written by Boikarabelo Motaung and directed by Mpho Molepo.
Baby Shower it is story is about a career-driven man who marries a rural woman who is struggling to adapt to life in Joburg. The wife is soon pregnant and the husband gets a promotion at work.
He is hardly home throughout the pregnancy; making it up for his absence, he organises a surprise baby shower party. But his timing is bad and his mother-in-law walks into the party – and she is not impressed at all.
Israel Makoe from SABC 1’s drama series Zone 14 – who comes from Alex – stars in the show.
Another drama in the line-up is The Gospel, written and directed by Motaung. It is about a pastor who repeatedly rapes a high school girl. When the girl tells her mother about her ordeal, her mother does not believe her.
It is only when the pastor’s wife discovers the truth that a case is opened and the pastor is arrested. The Gospel also features young actors from the Alexandra.
Director Mpho MolepoMpho Molepo directs Baby Shower“There is so much hunger and passion for acting in this township. This is a platform for them to expose their talents to top film writers and directors in the country,” says Motaung.
Equally passionate is Molepo, who has been involved in developing the arts in Alexandra for more than 23 years. The arts are the mirror or pulse of society. Through the arts, you can raise awareness.
Motaung also runs a three-month acting course for more than 20 students. He believes that the youngsters with potential must be given a chance to realise their dreams.
One such young actor hungry to make her mark is 17-year-old Zanele Mthembu, a learner at Waverly High School and a resident of Alexandra. “In four years’ time I want to get myself a permanent role in one of the local soapies such as Generations or Isidingo, but preferably Isidingo.”
Another aspiring actor is 17-year-old Lungile Mathe from Marlboro Gardens Secondary School. She is more passionate about movies, though. “For now I want to concentrate on theatre and eventually go in to movies.”
Thusong Youth Centre is located at 38 Twelfth Avenue. Tickets to Theatre Nights are R40; to book call Boikarabelo Motaung on 084 8130 778.
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