The popular Cape Town Edge marks its fifth birthday this year with a daily celebration of comedy, music, family and physical theatre.
From the Press Release: “Shows will again take place at the Princess Alice Hall from 30 June to 10 July at the National Arts Festival. This acclaimed initiative is a collective of independent theatre makers showcasing ground-breaking work originating from Cape Town under one roof at Princess Alice Hall. Supported by Distell, Cape Town Edge (CTE) has become famous not only for presenting award-winning productions, but also for its unique front-of-house experience. “We have something for everyone again this year – from space ninja adventures to magical tales, music and comedy,” says Jonathan Keevy of Yawazzi Theatre Productions and CTE marketing coordinator. “There are some of the hottest young artists performing with us and an increased combination of Afrikaans and Xhosa. Of course it wouldn’t be Cape Town Edge without an extra-special front of house offering and this year patrons can enjoy sushi, sherry and beer on draught.” The 2011 daily line-up is: The Ogreling (10am); Mafeking Road (12pm -noon); Interiors (2pm); Isangqa/Sirkelpad (4pm); …..miskien (6pm) and Nic Danger and the Rise of the Space Ninjas (8.30pm). Directed by Yvette Hardie with assistant direction by Ntombi Makhutshi, The Ogreling is Suzanne Lebeau’s story about the six-year-old son of an ogre (or izim) who discovers his nature and decides to escape his destiny. But first he must overcome three ordeals. The Ogreling explores the never-ending struggle between good and evil that resides within each of us. Drawing on ntsomi storytelling traditions, this haunting and magical tale crosses cultures and continents to bring you “an audacious and beautiful creation … that gives us all we deeply need to live and grow.” (La Savoie, Chambery). Featuring Nonceba Constance Didi and Thembani Luzipho, this is a richly evocative experience for the whole family. Mafeking Road is Herman Charles Bosman for the next generation – a one hour whirlwind that whips through some of the best short stories by one of South Africa’s greatest writers. The physical talents of Andrew Laubscher (of Antony and Cleopatra and The Mechanicals) and the multi-skilled Mathew Lewis come together under the direction of Tara Louise Notcutt (director of …miskien and Dream, Brother) to bring you well-loved stories such as In The Withaak’s Shade, and Willem Prinsloo’s Peach Brandy in a way that they have never been seen through a mixture of exciting physical theatre and comic book styles. A man. A woman. A table. For Interiors, Amy Jephta in association with Cape Town Edge and The Space Behind The Couch, presents three ingredients for the dissection and analysis of human relationships and the absurd, bizarre phenomenon called love. Exciting new playwright Jephta, who also wrote the text for another CTE production, Isangqa/Sirkelpad, teams up with performers Nadia Maria Caldeira and Beren Belknap, to bring you this quirky two-hander about what happens when your life becomes as boring as your interior decorating. Described on Megan’s Head as “A delicious little script…has moments of genius inspiration”, the play combines physical theatre with vocal mise-en-scene with a snappy, quick and witty style. The Oopkop Koöp presents Isangqa/Sirkelpad, an adaptation based on the stories of Racheltjie De Beer and Klara Majola. It’s an adventure through time and space where puppets, shadows and audience interaction takes them on a journey of the imagination. Khanyisa is an adopted child to the De Beer familie. Tragedy strikes the family when Khanyisa’s mother dies. Khanyisa feels lonely and rejected. She dreams of a young girl and her brother. Together they embark on an adventure through Africa and the landscape of the Spirit World while a Mysterious Woman guides them through their trials. Khanyisa returns to her family and finally makes peace with her mother’s death. Directed and designed by Illka Louw Isangqa/Sirkelpad is performed by Cindy Mkaza and De Klerk Oelofse in Afrikaans, with some isiXhosa. A Silver Standard Bank Ovation Award winner for Theatre last year and also appearing as part of the Arena programme this year, …miskien is Tara Notcutt’s acclaimed production about two best friends, Cormac and Layton, as they talk about love, life, rugby, work and women over their daily Happy Hour. But, when it’s over, they each go home to forget about the day that was the same as yesterday, and will not be very different tomorrow, with their boring jobs and dead-end lives. …miskien, an Afrikaans word meaning “maybe” or “perhaps”, is about the spaces between people, how we choose to fill them, and ultimately a love story about friendship. This talented director was awarded a Fleur du Cap award, the Rosalie van der Gucht Prize for Best New Director and the Emerging Theatre Director’s Bursary. Now Tara is on her way to the Lincoln Centre Theatre Director’s Lab in New York, where she will spend three weeks working with some of the world’s leading directors. Sometimes a comedy, and at times a tragedy, …miskien is performed by Albert Pretorius and Gideon Lombard and has been described as “…leaves one speechless and hardly daring to breathe” (Cape Times). Described by the Cape Argus as ‘hilariously offbeat’, Nic Danger and the Rise of the Space Ninjas tells the story of Nic, an ordinary young boy with one special difference — since birth he has had a moustache of epic proportions! One night in a desperate attempt to become normal, Nic fired his most powerful laser directly at his moustache. Amazingly, his moustache holds great mysterious and ancient powers, and in the resulting explosion, a portal through time was ripped open and Nic was sucked into the future! It is the year 3000, and planet earth has been overrun by an alien race of space ninjas and only Nic can save mankind! Written, directed and designed by Nic Davies, the show features Nic Davies, Brendan Murray and Trent Nightingale with music by Nic Davies and Henre Bothe. For enquiries about Cape Town Edge, a cut above the rest, contact: Jonathan Keevy on 084 249 8532″
