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WHAT do you do when you've got lots of time and nothing to do?
Bangikhaya Poni spent time talking to different children in Groendal and in the informal settlement eMatyotyombeni in Franschhoek and found that they are frustrated by having nothing to do with their lives except walk around or play pool in the local pub or shebeen.
As Bridge House Prep School drama teacher and a graduate of UCT's drama school, Poni has experienced the power of theatre.
"Theatre changed my life around - like sport it can bring people together".
Co-founder Laurie Brittan's dream to create after school activities for the children and Poni's research culminated in the Community Drama Project. He is running workshops with two groups of children on Saturday mornings.
From shy and timid children at the beginning of February, Poni is now able to recognise their different strengths and talents and has divided the children into different groups - singers, dancers and actors.
He says the number of children at the workshops has grown and "the regulars already know what to do before we start - they do a complete warm-up for the body, the voice and mind."
"By acting out their own individual situations and those they see in their communities, they become aware of the challenges and stumbling blocks they are facing and therefore can find ways to overcome them," says Bangi, who is now working with the children to produce a concert later this year.
He is determined to use this opportunity to benefit everyone involved. Discovering the children's singing talents he has added voice exercises and song games as he says, "this is for the kids to exercise their voices and also to be aware of their voices as a special gift given to them which needs to be nurtured and taken care of.
As the town hall is not always available for the workshops, they are now held at Bridge House. Ultimately the Community Drama Project's home will be the Barnyard Theatre.
The theatre will be built on the Bridge House school grounds in the second half of this year. A portion of the funding received from the Austrian Trust for the theatre is specifically for the Community Drama project. |
GELYKOP. Die hoofwedstryd van die Derby tussen Paulus Joubert Sekondêre Skool en Noorder-Paarl Sekondêre Skool was 'n tawwe stryd wat gelykop geëindig het. Hier hou die kapteins die beker saam omhoog. Van links is Steven de Wet (waarnemende hoof van Noorder-Paarl), Elnico Adams (Noorder-Paarl kaptein), Jonathan Plaatjies (Paulus Joubert kaptein) en Thomas Kearns (skoolhoof van Paulus Joubert).