Olivetree Theatre hosts befitting Women’s Month edutainment
ALEXANDRA - Alexandrians wishing to celebrate women’s month of substance and beyond, need to look no further than the Olivetree Theatre which is in he backyard.
Alexandrians wishing to celebrate a notable Women’s Month need look no further than the Olivetree Theatre which is in their backyard.
The theatre is an entertainment venue of choice and is marking Women’s Month with a range of theatrical activities including plays by schoolchildren. These activities are a precursor to their flagship event, the Women in Theatre Festival from 22 October to 1 November.
Jessica Ndaba of the theatre said the Women’s Month events would also test their readiness as they build up to their flagship activity. The festival profiles emerging female directors.
“In its fourth year, the event is now an international spectacle and will feature work of five directors, this time from KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape. The event will also be graced by five seasoned directors from Canada, United States of America, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa,” she said.
The Women’s Month events kicked off on 16 August with four nights of film screenings, starting with the play Marikana which marked the anniversary of a day the country was sunk into deep sadness after the killing of 34 miners protesting for a better living wage at a North West Province mine.
This will be followed by Women’s Theatre Week from 21 to 26 August which will feature two edutainment plays by schoolchildren on gender-based violence. The plays are in partnership with non-profit organisation Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training [Adapt].
One is called The seed and it depicts teacher abuse of children and features a cast from Kwa-Bhekilanga Secondary School. The other is called Unfinished Business and depicts women abuse at home and is played by a cast from Realogile Secondary School. Both plays entertain while educating on the essence of equality, protection and promotion of rights for women. Councillors from Adapt will be on hand to respond to questions.
Next will be the hosting of the Miss Alex competition on 29 August, which features 10 finalists of the township’s young, vivacious and brainy beauty contestants.
Ndaba said these events complement their weekly schedule of events which include film screenings on Tuesdays, poetry sessions on Wednesdays and film and drama classes on Saturdays.
Details: Olivetree Theatre 011 048 6152.
