Live-streaming ‘a success’ says Market Theatre
By CityLife Arts Writer
It looks like for now while the prospect of opening theatres and other live events is still mired in uncertainty due to safety concerns because of COVID19, theatres are not waiting as they have gone the live-streaming route .
The Market Theatre launched its first online theatre season Ditshomo on Thursday 18 June 2020, and the theatre reports that it was “a great success.”. The season comprises of brand-new theatre productions curated for live streaming. The season has premiered so far with productions by award winning choreographers, playwrights, and directors, and now the theatre is opening another season of live-streamed shows.
“The Market Theatre understands fully the importance of keeping theatre alive and had adapt to the new normal with online theatre seasons. The theatre has created one and two handers productions shot in high definition to be broadcasted over all its social media platforms.
For the next six weeks Ditshomo will continue providing jam packed line up of pulsating projects for theatre lovers of theatre. Ithemba/ Hope dance piece directed by Smangaliso Ngwenya and delicately performed by Thulisile Binda.
The play is based on the dancer’s personal journey of uncovering deep scars that come back to haunt us! It is a quest of trying to build a haven for oneself, but it never lasts at the end it feels like a waste of time, but hope keeps you alive,” the Newtown based institution said in a statement this week.
Napo Masheane wrote and directed Elleloang, a breath taking one hander staring Moliehi Makobane. Elleloang is a Sesotho name which means be aware or take note of. This narrative tale explores self-esteem, self-worth, structural inequality, and suppression of being a foreigner in South Africa amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ascend/Descend is a collaboration between Thamsanqa Masoka and Musa Motha. The dance piece is a fusion of cultural blends, cross cultural attitudes, philosophies, and behaviours coming together at a dinner. Questioning time, paradigm shifts in eras and exploring the different momentous movements and revolutionary waves in leadership of state governance, of regime and royalties’ hierarchy and protest anarchies.
Legendary Paul Slabolepsyz’s Endangered starring Anthony Coleman and Kate Tilley is about a couple who are in throes of a painful divorce. The production will take the audiences through a roller-coaster of emotions as they watch the estranged couple navigate this tumultuous time together.
The Table is a one person play written and directed by Bobby Rodwell and workshopped and performed by actor Faniswa Yisa dealing with gender-based violence in South Africa today.
Ditshomo story time season will see award winning playwrights and choreographer’s premier their twenty-minute productions. The actors will sink their teeth and immerse themselves into the lives of the people in these vignettes.
“We are completely committed to the idea that sees us programming and staying in touch with our patrons and at the same time celebrating those who have always gifted us with stories to tell. It also presents an opportunity for our work to be accessible to global audiences. We have been releasing a new production every week from 18th of June for the next six weeks”, said James Ngcobo, artistic director of the Market Theatre Foundation.
Schedule for the upcoming productions: all productions will go live at 12h00
.Ithemba/Hope Thursday 16 July 2020
..Elleloang Thursday 23 July 2020
.Endangered Thursday 30 July 2020
.Ascend/Descend Thursday 6 August 2020
.The Table Thursday 13 August 2020