Twist Theatre Development Projects, the dynamic KZN-based organisation that works on bridging the gap between community theatre and the theatre industry, will be launching a new compilation of eleven theatre scripts in English and isiZulu.
The scripts are the result of collaborations between four community-based theatre groups and an assortment of professional theatre writers, directors and mentors. The groups hail from Manguzi in the far north of KZN, Marianhill near Pinetown, and Pietermaritzburg; and have been part of the Twist development programme over the past eighteen months.
Through a series of different projects, they have worked with experienced South African theatre mentors including 2017 Standard Bank Young Artist of the year Monageng ‘Vice’ Motshabi, Prince Lamla, Ntshieng Mokgoro and Zwai Mgijima. They have also had extensive mentoring with Dutch theatre director and director of Twist Projects, Roel Twijnstra, with visiting Dutch street theatre artists, and Durban-based acting teachers Bhekani Shabalala, Musa Ntuli, Mtho Zulu and Philisiwe Twijnstra.
The groups co-created new productions with these mentors, and performed them at a range of festivals around KZN and in their own home communities, in a programme that sees a revitalisation of exciting content and forms for theatre. These are written into scripts in English and Zulu which are compiled into the “New South African Playscripts” book that will be launched in Durban on 25 March.
This book makes contemporary theatre scripts available free of charge to educational institutions and organisations for use in writing, directing and performance projects. Twist co-director, Emma Durden, comments “There are not many formally published playscripts in South Africa, and we are very excited to release this collection of eleven new plays. The opportunity to publish in both English and Zulu promotes greater access to written theatre work and we are delighted to be able to facilitate this”.
The new book will be launched alongside a smaller compilation of short plays from the annual Novel-Script Project, which includes scripts created by South African, Mozambiquan, Zambian and Zimbabwean writers. The launch coincides with the graduation of 21 emerging theatre practitioners who have been part of the Twist programme over the past year and a half, and the inaugural Twist Game-Changer Award; awarded to an individual who has made a difference to access and education in the theatre landscape of KZN.
The launch and award presentation will be at 5 pm on Saturday 25 March at the Courtyard Theatre at the Durban University of Technology’s Steve Biko Campus. All are welcome. For more information contact info@twistprojects.co.za
The publishing of these script compilations is funded by the National Lotteries Commission.
