Youth to express themselves at State Theatre Youth Expressional Festival 2023
By CityLife Arts Writer
This Youth Month, the South African State Theatre (SAST) will be celebrating the youth’s creative spirit with a presentation of the 2023 edition of the annual Youth Expression Festival (YEF) taking place from 16 June to 31 July 2023. Whilst remembering the youth of 1976, the festival is set to salute also the first youth of post-apartheid South Africa, who at the dawn of democracy pioneered kwaito music and its fashion to express themselves. As a result, the festival will launch with the theme Old School Kwaito on Youth Day, 16 June.
“The youth of 1976 taught us the importance of expressing ourselves as young people. Our voices matter! This year, we celebrate the iconic youth endala (old). From Mdu Maselela, to TKZee, Boomshaka, Trompies, Senyaka, just to mention a few, young people found their voice and reflection in these icons. They have paved a way for us to create art that reflects our times and society. As the SAST, we value and encourage freedom of expression, particularly freedom of artistic creativity,” comments Festival Curator and Education Youth and Children’s Theatre (EYCT) department’s Manager at the SAST Diamond Mokoape.
This year marks the 47th anniversary of the 16 June 1976 student uprising in Soweto when young people protested against imposition of Afrikaans by the apartheid regime as a medium of instruction. The uprising ended tragically with hundreds of young people being brutally killed. The SAST honours the contribution of the youth in the struggle for the liberation of South Africa.
While the creative industry is still reeling from the effects of COVID-19, the YEF wishes to also remind South Africa of its interconnectivity. This is the main theme of the festival, which is inspired by actions of the youth of 76. “ We come from a very difficult time. The pandemic has taken three years from the industry, leaving many with hunger to present artistically sound productions. Our programme this year will look at how our actions affect others, which is an important lesson that can be taken from the youth of 76,” adds Mokoape.
Now in its 14th instalment, having missed the year 2020 due to Covid-19, the YEF has become a beacon of creativity, innovation, and empowerment. Since its inception in 2008, It has been providing funding for productions and creating multiple employment for young artists using curated productions. An avenue for many to launch their careers, the YEF has seen many young artists that develop to be masters in their craft. The festival provides a safe artistic platform for the youth to freely use art to voice topical issues impacting their lives
Providing an index of the youth’s mood in the country, the works that will be showcased by the featured young creatives explore topics such as Identity crisis, black history, spirituality, mental health, service delivery, leadership, and finding healing and love. Festival goers are spoilt for a variety of choice in ten productions billed for this year’s instalment. From children’s theatre, comedy, drama, to poetry, music, and a newly added singing competition, the youth festival offers everything for everyone.
14th Annual Youth Expressions Festival Programme
MUSIC
SAST YOUTH CHOIR mentored and directed by Mandla Ntlaks 16 June
Founded in 2016, the choir has proved to be an instrumental platform where many emerging vocalists, composers and musical directors saw their craft blossom. Some of the members are already performing artists around Tshwane and believe that being part of the choir will help build their talents and enlarge their territory and influence in the music industry.
HOME: A Music Concert by Rorisang Sechele 17&18 June
Rorisang Sechele finally brings her musical offerings HOME by sharing her original jazzy & soulful compositions. This is an invitation to an intimate place she calls “A Safe Haven”, a place of comfort and warmth. With a message that heavily highlights the importance of mental health awareness through introspection, acceptance, release, and affirmation. This is a call to those who are in need of a place they can call HOME.
AMAGWIJO SINGING COMPETITION 23 & 30 June
Amagwijo (war cries) have become a popular way of South Africans to express themselves. ‘As a nation that loves music, we sing when we celebrate, and we sing when we mourn. Music has always been that one thing that unifies us as a nation and a people.’ The SAST is proud to introduce this singing competition which will see groups battle it out for a cash prize of forty thousand rands (R40000). Entry auditions will be held On 23 June at 10:00 to pick groups that will compete at the finals on 30 June.
IYE A Music Concert by Hlogii Sehowa 29&30 June
IYE is a musical composition of African sounds and storytelling through dance and dramaturgy, reflecting on a coming of age journey of girl whose life takes an sharp turn after losing her mother.
DRAMA
2060 written and directed by Sibongile Nkosi 19-22 June
The year is 2060 in South Africa when a thirteen-year-old black girl Keleletso who aspires to be a historian gets a black history lesson. This futuristic drama unpacks themes of the power of mental oppression, unlearning to learn, black myths, stereotypes, and identity.
THE TRAGEDY OF SAMUEL OMUNYE written & directed by Masai Sepuru | 22-25 June
Samuel, a university professor is abducted and interrogated about his recently published paper by his old friend Muga who is now a warlord. With an attempt to calm the situation, Samuel engages in a heated philosophical debate with Muga about his thesis on free will. It is a story of brotherhood, love, war, and all things universe.
POETRY
SUITED FOR EACH OTHER poetry by Ashley Moyo 20-23 June
Between the boarders of love, two worlds meet. One born from fire and the other from the ocean. They’re without passports of healing within their palms, which prohibits them from becoming citizens within each other’s hearts. But love shall find a passage.
DEATH ROW written & directed by Tshwarelo Frans Sekhula 27-30 June
While in prison, a man who is falsely imprisoned for raping a woman has manic desire for revenge for all women carrying the resemblance of the woman who falsely accused him.
CHILDREN’S THEATRE
THE DAY THE SUN WENT SILLY adapted and written by Princess Sechele 23-25 June
Mr. Sun has a responsibility to make sure everyone in the whole world wakes up on time and that late afternoon sets right on time too, bringing each day to an end. One fateful day Sunray becomes disobedient, and Mr. Sun’s daily routine gets compromised. But how does the sun go silly? Let’s meet the Sun family and find out!
HARE MEETS HIS MATCH written and directed by Anele “my Shepard” Magana 27-30 June
This folktale tells a story about the animal kingdom being under a heavy drought for many months until King Lion decides to build up a dam near his home. All animals heed the call to help him except Hare.
COMEDY
WHO LEFT THE FRIDGE OPEN? directed by Kagiso Hlabane 28 June- 01 July
Meet the Dinkunyanas, a middleclass family trying to make it against all odds in the democratic South Africa. Navigating hardships the country has to offer, from potholes, to looting, high interest rates, and power cuts, they hilariously try to see the glass half full.
WORKSHOPS
The YEF also provides free workshops and masterclasses that offer valuable insights and practical knowledge to help young creatives develop their skills and explore their potential as they navigate their arts industry.
-Adopting a community Stokvel system for marketing the arts by Creative Industries Marketing Stokvel- 19 June, 10AM.
-Marketing For independent theatre makers within the community context by Creative Industries Marketing Stokvel 19 June, 2PM.
-Scriptwriting Master Class by Greg Homann, 22 June, 10AM
-Directing Masterclass by Aubrey SekhabI, 23 June, 10PM
-Vocal Movement Workshop by Dudu Makhoba, 27 June, 10AM
-Business and Arts Administration Workshop, 29 June, 10AM