DURBAN-BASED award-winning theatre company Empatheatre has been invited by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to present their hard-hitting play, Lalela Ulwandle (Listen to the Sea), at this year’s 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) from November 6 to November 18 in Egypt.
The company recently showcased its critically-acclaimed work, Isidlamlilo – The Fire Eater featuring the award-winning actress Mpume Mthombeni at The Sneddon Theatre, UKZN, which ended on Wednesday, November 9.
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Following this Durban season, they rush off to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt to perform their much-toured, impact theatre work, Lalela Ulwandle, at the ‘Oceans and Land’ day event at the Capacity Building Hub in Egypt.
According to the show’s director, Neil Coppen, Lalela Ulwandle explores themes of intergenerational environmental injustices, tangible and intangible ocean heritage, marine science, and the myriad threats to ocean health.
“Essentially, this piece is an invitation to a participatory public conversation on ocean governance in South Africa (and beyond). The work was initially funded under the One Ocean Hub, the five-country hub of researchers exploring more democratic methods of engagement in ocean governance, and it is under this banner that the work will be seen at COP27,” said Coppen.
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“Our play, which has been touring South Africa since 2019, holding public storytelling events and tribunals, has gathered thousands of coastal peoples’ spiritual, cultural, and scientific understandings of the oceans in these critical climate-stressed times,” continued Coppen. “We have performed through droughts and floods, through pandemics and political struggles – through personal losses and through massive shifts in the way we work and practise.”
Lalela Ulwandle (Listen to the Sea), which features Alison Cassels, Mpume Mthombeni and Rory Booth, is written and directed by Neil Coppen, with contributions from Helen Walne, Gcina Mhlophe, Mpume Mthombeni, Dylan McGarry, Taryn Pereira and Kira Erwin. The UFC (Urban Futures Centre) at DUT has been deeply involved in the production from the outset, under the leadership of Dr Kira Erwin.
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