Mandela’s theatre production gives children laughter
PARKTOWN – National Children's Theatre mesmerises a group of children at the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital.
A group of children could only burst into laughter as they enjoyed the stage play in one of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital surgical wards that was temporarily turned into a theatre stage.
This was when the National Children’s Theatre took the stage straight to the hospital to give children happiness and laughter to remember on Wednesday 17 July.
The actors from the theatre performed a play adapted from one of Chris van Wyk’s last stories, titled Mr Hare Meets Mr Mandela. This play is based on a book by Van Wyk with illustrations by Paddy Bouma.
A tale about bravery, persistence and the significance of being literate left the children craving for more. In the story, Mr Hare finds a R200-note on his doorstep. He turns the note over and sees Mr Mandela’s face and decides to brave the City of Johannesburg to return it to Mr Mandela. Mr Hare couldn’t read and came across many people along the journey who want to get their hands on Mandela’s money.
Matthew Counihan from the Children’s Theatre said laughter and happiness was the best way of healing, hence they took the play to the hospital.
“This is our part of giving back to the community as we do our 67 minutes of the Mandela Day campaign,” he said.
He said since they are also a non-governmental organisation like the children’s hospital, their alignment was obvious as they both rely mostly on partnership for existence. Counihan said taking the play to the hospital was a gesture of generosity and love to children which Nelson Mandela embraced throughout his life.
Meanwhile PEO Literature also performed songs to the children. The organisation brought a mascot called Lali which sang to the children. “We brought songs with the nursery rhythm that we usually sing and perform to the other kids out there,” said the PEO Literature founder Dimakatso Mookodi.
She said they decided to give children what they usually do for other children outside the hospital.
Details: National Children’s Theatre 011 484 1584.
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