Alex Arts Academy partners with Arts Alive to launch Current Affairs Theatre Festival

The festival runs from October 23 to October at Alexsan Resource Centre in Alexandra

By CityLife Arts Writer

Alex Arts Academy in partnership with Arts Alive are collaboratively presenting a theatre feast called Current Affairs Theatre Festival, that reflects on events and life in a time of the Covid-19 pandemic, through the lens of the youth from Alexandra.

This festival kicks of on October 23, and will run for three daysat Alexsan Resource Centre in Alexandraas part of the ongoing Arts Alive Festival.

“After recently hosting a successful policy conference for Gauteng community arts centres in partnership with the National Department of Sports Arts and Culture, Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, and the City of Joburg through Arts Alive Festival, Alex Arts Academy is excited to be partnering yet again with the City of Joburg’s flagship festival; Arts Alive Festival to present; Current Affairs Theatre Festival.

Since its inception in February 2019, after being developed by well-known arts administrator, actor, director and activist Mr. Mpho J Molepo, Alexandra Arts Academy has grown in leaps and bounds not only by nurturing young minds and empowering future generation artists, but also by partnering with leading arts institutions, arts organisations and practitioners alike.It is through this partnership with Arts Alive, which has been growing from strength to strength, that the academy is in a position to present Current Affairs Theatre Festival,” the Alex Arts Academy says in a statement.

The festival will take place over three days (23^rd – 25^th October), at Alexsan Resource Centre in Alexandra. Ten (10) productions will be presented over the three days, with four productions on the 23^rd, three productions on the 24^th, and three productions on the 25^thofOctober, respectively.

The stories told by ten directors, ten assistant directors and ten actors will take the audience through varied and alternated journeys that  youth went through since the declaration of the Disaster Management Actof 2002. The stories will be looking at Covid-19 from different perspectives, stories of love, despair, anger, displacement, happiness, isolation, community, fear and hope. The 10 productions have been in rehearsals since early September and we are thrilled to be sharing them with the community of Alexandra and beyond.

The festival also serves as an incubation and mentorship program as student directors have been given an opportunity to work with established directors to learn from them. The directing process is set up in a way that allows for learning to take place, knowledge to be shared and as a platform for assistant directors to experiment and learn first-hand during rehearsals, all through the trajectory into the presentation.

“We have also cast our full-time students as actors in these productions as we prepare and transition them from students of the arts into the professional world. We are happy that this two-month programme will not only come out with ten productions, but a group of 23 students who would have gone through a process of mentorship and hands-on production in acting and directing.

“The festival is an opportunity for our students to experiment, be mentored and transition into the industry… the two month mentorship programme is meant to give them hands-on experience in theatre making production processes”. Moses Rasekele D, Festival Coordinator.

Current Affairs Theatre Festival Programme

Day One
The Public Defender
Directed by Avril Mkansi, assisted by Lerato Miyambo, Performed by Eugine Banda

UBungoma
Directed by Masiza Mbali, assisted by Mpendulo Mkungo and Mmamekgwa Masopa, performed by Khanyisile Dlamini.

Levels of Death.
Directed by Sanele Mzimela, assisted by Caroline Bungela, Performed by Siphelele Maseko.

Faceless
Directed by Matlakala Motaung, assisted by Ntombizonke Mncube and Jackie Rasehlomi, performed by Mike Dzova

Day Two
24^th October 2020 (Saturday)

Locked-Voices:
Directed by Mpho Masilela, assisted by Pfunzo Tshililo, Performed by Bridget Mogano

Uyaphi?
Directed by Archie Matsetela, assisted by Lwazi Zungu, Performed by Kedibone Sekgobela

AT 19-YEAR-OLD
Directed by Thabile Tshabalala, assisted by Sisanda Ntatawe, Performed by Tshepang Ramasehla

Day Three
25^th October 2020 (Sunday)

The Struggle
Directed by Sipho Manganyi and Xolani Sango, Performed by Simphiwe Jako

365 Days Lock down
Directed by Masiza Mbali, assisted by Dineo Leputu, Performed by Hope Mampa.

Locked heart
Directed by Sarah Ntobela, assisted by Nomava Anatti Ndaba, Performed by Zanele Mbatha

“We are very excited with the partnership with Arts Alive because it gives our young learners an opportunity to be on stage and tell their stories… we are looking forward to sharing these passionate stories” Says Mr. Mpho Molepo, the Festival Director.

Dates: 23^rd to 25^thOctober 2020

Times: 15:00 – 18:00

Venues: Alex San Kopano