Don’t miss the Ten Bush production at Wits
BRAAMFONTEIN – Witchcraft and the harsh realities of South Africa depicted in the not to be missed Ten Bush production.
The University of the Witwatersrand’s (Wits) School of Arts and Wits Theatre are bringing theatre fans Ten Bush.
The production was originally created by Mncendisi Shabangu but has since been reworked by Shabangu and co-writer Craige Higginson and this time around, it is being directed by award-winning director, Prince Lamla who is a lecturer in the theatre and performance division of the Wits School of Arts.
The production focuses on witchcraft and will be shown in the Wits Downstairs Theatre until 21 October.
The play’s name was inspired by a South African settlement, known as Tenbosch, which Shabangu and Higginson visited together. Tenbosch is a large affluent sugarcane farm, which at the time of their visit, the farmer hadn’t bothered to provide sanitation or electricity for the people who worked on the farm.
“[I]nhabitants got cold water from a single tap. The foreman, who had the highest status among the workers living there, has a bicycle and a walkie-talkie for communicating with the farmer,” Higginson explained.
He further explained that the people within the settlement on the farm had crafted beautiful homes out of woven grass and reeds.The only furniture on their mud floors were buckets and mattresses. It is this environment which set the scene for the Ten Bush production.
The play first opened at the National Arts Festival in 2008 and then took to the Market Theatre stage. It was received successfully and managed to win various awards in the process. The production has also travelled to Sweden and Germany.
When asked why he chose to direct the play, Lamla explained that he has always wanted an opportunity to present Shabangu’s work. He said he also wanted to expose his students to contemporary South African work.
“I am aware that part of the journey is to decolonise learning. So as part of education and experimental learning, this is a good script for them to become familiar with not just the cultural practices but with the writers who are in the industry,” Lamla explained.
This Wits show makes for the production’s first staging of the play since it travelled to Sweden and Germany.
Details
Venue: Wits Downstairs Theatre
Date: 13 to 21 October
Tickets: www.webtickets.co.za
ALSO READ: #BDJ – Joburg Theatre – Big City Big Dreams
