Artscape stages buzzing with young talent in celebration of Youth Month

Artscape is on a mission to showcase young talent to celebrate Youth Month with a number of exciting productions taking place from the end of May till end of June 2022.

Patrons visiting Artscape over this period will experience an array of productions detailing social ills and historical connections, as well as the annual Youth Jazz Festival concert. Artscape prides itself in its Youth Month programme. Its aims serve to give young artists the opportunities they deserve while they experience theatre in various formats. The youth programme pays tribute to those young South Africans who fought in the struggle in order that all the Youth of today can take centre stage of their futures and create environments for them to prosper. Artscape strives to fulfil its mission of achieving transformation and growth in the performing arts, while placing the spotlight on social cohesion, development and transformation of cultures and communities.

The youth programme, like other celebratory programmes throughout the year,

contribute to the inclusion and integration and skills development of previously disadvantaged communities to help transform society.

Here is a taste of events this month:

Cape Town’s Most Wanted, now showing its 10th production from 9 June and 10 June at 19:30 and 11 June at 15:00 and 19:30. They will showcase the best of Cape Town’s best of Hip Hop performers and crews, bringing raw talent to the stage for all to enjoy. Produced by The Dance Project and Triple C, the showcase, which is deliberately non-competitive, boasts a total of 230 talented dancers who have been representing themselves proudly in national and international dance competitions since 2020. Patrons will get to enjoy the best of House; B-Boying, Popping and Locking, Krump, Voguing, Whacking, Old School, New School, Lyrical, Pantsula, Contemporary, Breakdancing,–including the new popular South African styles.Tickets cost R140 and are on sale now at Computicket.

Vloeibare Moed is a theatre production takes place from 8 – 18 June at 18:30, with the exception of 15 and 18 June the play takes place at 14:00. This production is inspired by the events that took place after the gruesome death of student Uyinene Mrwetyana. This gripping production tackles difficult conversations around gender-based violence. The show centres around the lives of four first year university friends who are in turmoil after one of them is the main suspect following a crime committed on the universitycampus. The four friends are played by Lyle October (Sherwyn) , Joshua Vraagom (Dean),Muranzo Thomas (Dillon) and Jaydon Williams (Randall). October will be making his debut, while the others are stars who featured in local productions such as Noem My Skollie, Arendsvlei, Sara se Geheim and The Kingdom to name a few. With the frightening statistics of gender-based violence in South Africa, production company Hartzenberg Films feels they need to continue the conversation of this social ill. Tickets cost R80 and will be available on Computicket.

The iconic Youth Jazz Festival Concert was launched by the Artscape in 2003, and continues to grow in interest and talent, entertaining jazz lovers with the smooth sounds of the sax, instrumentals and sultry singing.

This year, Artscape has put together online Youth Jazz Festival auditions and put out a call out to young aspiring jazz musicians to submit an audition video via online platforms. The programme will see young, aspiring Western Cape based jazz musicians and instrumentalists; scholars and informal music students not older than 27 who have

made the cut following auditions that were held earlier this year. A Jazz Panel made up of Amanda Tiffin, Kieth Tabisher, Bongani Sotshononda, Mandisi Dyantyis and Charles Banjatwa have selected this year’s Youth Jazz Soloists. The project will include Masterclass programme’s with the aim to stage selected School Jazz Bands on Friday 17th June and showcase young Jazz Soloists on Saturday 18th June. This year’s youth jazz Soloists will be mentored by likes of Amanda Tiffin (director, vocalist mentor), Mandisi Dyantyis (song writing and musical director), Wesley Rustin (bass and guitar mentor), Marc de Kock (brass and woodwinds mentor), Kevin Gibson (drums) and Blake Hellaby (keyboard/piano).

Dancing Against All Odds brings together dance, dancers and dance Lovers in celebrating the gift of movement in a nation of storytellers and how no matter what, we dance against all of the odds. Co-directors and founders of New World Dance Theatre Celeste Botha and Marlin Zoutman, who have extensive careers as contemporary dancers, teachers, choreographers and social entrepreneurs, bring this collaboration to Artscape - a collaboration of all dance styles, schools and studios coming together and communicating through freedom of elegant movement that is dance.

New World Dance Theatre reflects humanity, life and ongoing commitment to be change agents through the arts and to continue with the legacy of Charlotte Maxeke: always give of yourself. This show is a celebration of our youth and dance, and investing in a future that belongs to them. Dancing against all odds will show at the Artscape on 29 June, 30 June and 1 July at 20:00 and on 2 July 16:00 and 20:00. Tickets cost R150

Additional Youth Projects taking place at Artscape are as follows: 

Artscape, in partnership with the Edinburgh Festival Carnivalin Scotland, runs an international emerging artists exchange programme, where dancers from South Africa and Scotland visit each country in an exchange that most marginalised youth only dream of. Currently, three dancers from Scotland are collaborating with Unmute Dance Theatre, called the Diversity in Dance Project. It   is funded by the British Council. Unmute is the only full-time professional dance theatre on the African continent that encompasses dancers with disabilities.The fruits of their labour will be showcased at the upcoming Edinburgh Festival Carnival in July 2022. The project will return to Artscape during the Artsability festival at the end the year. The main aim of this project is to pursue an inclusive approach to a more cultural democratic process of ‘artistic creation’ where all have the right to access high quality work that engages with participants (those taking part) and audiences. The UK dancers are Pallavi Nair, Chinyanta Kabaso and Jia McKenzie who is a deaf dancer. The Unmute Dancers are Nadine MacKensie, Yaseen Manuel and Tasmin Andrews.

Meanwhile the  Samba Résille project is an ongoing partnership of Artscape, Barefeet Theatre and the European partner, Samba Résille, in an effort to foster inclusion and diversity. This enriching experience aims to improve the cooperative skills at the international level and the quality of the socio-educational tools of all stakeholders; strengthen creative and innovative skills of all participants; work on the internationalisation and the leadership of the partners to make their youth actions take into account all the stakes linked to the cultural construction of youth and the young construction of culture.

All activities comply with all COVID-19 regulations including social distancing and patrons must wear masks for entry.

Bookings can be made at Artscape Dial-a-seat 021 421 7695.

For media enquiries, please contact Candice@headsupcomm.co.za or cell: 0769589593

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Issued on behalf of: Artscape Theatre CentreMarketing DepartmentSenior Manager: Communications and Brand ManagementSimone HeradienContact: 073 207 1558