Residents under utilise theatre

The Olive Tree Theatre is producing world-class theatre pieces which local residents are missing out on due to their apathy to this form of entertainment.

The theatre, which operates from a spacious venue at Yarona Building, 2nd Street, Wynberg, is instead attracting interest from artists and audiences from the region and abroad because of the quality of its productions depicting social and economic context of our transformation.

Ntshieng Mokgoro, founder and director of the theatre, said with society’s high expectations from the transformation process, the place provides a platform to engage through theatrical pieces, robust discussions and debates on social, economic and political issues. She said this at the Theatre Meets Business event convened to encourage businesses to use the venue to communicate business issues through industrial theatre pieces, for their branding, marketing and carnivals. She said this could be done through bulk buying of tickets for company staff outings to watch local actors showcasing their talent. She added the facility also provided space to debate political issues, social cohesion, race, political parties, and to commemorate heroes of the struggle. In addition, it was a space to promote education for school children by dramatising books to make it easier for them to understand difficult learning contexts.” This can be done at school festivals where they [children] can also develop an interest in theatre as a potential profession and it will keep them off the street.” she said.

Mokgoro also expressed sadness when stating that the place competed with bars and taverns for audiences as these venues attract younger generations which should be preoccupied with educational and other social values deriving from theatre. “This place should be their cultural incubator where they can be guided by seasoned actors.

The venue recently hosted a Women’s Theatre Festival where several up-and-coming female directors produced exceptional pieces which won regional and international acclaim. Mokgoro also used the occasion to publicise next year’s events which include:

Schools festival on 27 March

Theatre for Young Audiences on 17 and 18 April

Youth Theatre Festival on 15 to 19 June

Poetry Festival on 24 to 26 July

Co-operatives festival on 9 September

Women’s Theatre Festival on 22 October to 2 November

Commemoration of the 16 days of Activism Against Abuse of Women and Children on 27 to 29 November. The event will comprise workshops, training activities and production by professional and semi-professional actors.

Details; Olive Tree Theatre; 073 591 9567; www.olivetreetheatre@wix.com