THE 15th annual PANSA Young Performers project is presenting an innovative new home-grown work entitled Soldiers in the City, which will be staged at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 3 to 12 July.
Created by Themi Venturas, Iain “Ewok” Robinson and Lucky Cele, the show engages with the new emerging urban youth culture, and revolves around the story of two best friends, both excellent poets, who compete in an underground slam poetry challenge, and realise that words can be sharper, and more dangerous than swords, and forgiveness and loyalty is more valuable than glory.
Soldiers in the City is a vibrant contemporary relevant story talking to pertinent youth-focussed issues. The production examines the overt culture of the new generation which includes rhyming, beat-box, urban dance, music and public artwork like graffiti. The music was carefully chosen and is performed to a live band, the ever popular The Reals and the poetry for the ‘rap’ battles has been written by EWOK
Open auditions were held at Glenwood High and at the Hexagon in Pietermaritzburg to gather the best musical-theatre high-school performers to make up the cast. These are complemented by a professional band headlined by Barry Thomson who plays one of the teachers.
Spearheaded by PANSA, the Performing Arts Network of South Africa: KZN, the project ensures that the learners get a taste of working in the professional musical theatre arena.
Booking is essential through Computicket outlets at Shoprite Checkers, by phone on 0861 915 8000 or online at www.computicket.com.
