Categories: Events

Unleashing the Storytellers: A Celebration of Narratives at Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre

The New Voices program at Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre is a platform for aspiring scriptwriters to showcase their talents and develop their skills through training and collaborative sessions. The initiative, supported by the City of Cape Town’s Arts and Culture Branch, culminates in staged readings with professional actors and directors. It is a testament to the power of storytelling and the impact it can have on individuals and communities alike, creating a new generation of storytellers who will captivate and inspire audiences for years to come.

What is the New Voices program at Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre?

The New Voices program at Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre is an initiative supported by the City of Cape Town’s Arts and Culture Branch to foster, guide, and highlight the skills of aspiring scriptwriters. The program aims to create new generation of storytellers by cultivating and showcasing the talents of emerging creatives through a series of training, development, peer-to-peer learning, and collaborative sessions. It culminates in staged readings with professional actors and directors to test out new material and potentially evolve them into full-length productions.

Nurturing Emerging Talent in the Arts

In October 2023, the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town turned into a thriving hub for budding storytellers through the “New Voices” program. With the support of the City of Cape Town’s Arts and Culture Branch, the initiative aimed to foster, guide, and highlight the skills of aspiring scriptwriters. The program underscores the vital function of storytelling in molding our world, ultimately demonstrating that storytellers are the most influential figures.

To reach the Artscape stage, participants underwent a series of training, development, peer-to-peer learning, and collaborative sessions within the Cultural Mapping Planning and Arts Aweh! Programs. These programs were designed by the Arts and Culture Branch to enable participants to create stories that mirrored their personal experiences and the unique circumstances that shaped their outlooks.

Councillor Patricia van der Ross, the city’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, expressed her delight in supporting the New Voices program. In her view, the initiative not only empowers emerging artists but also presents their work to a broader audience. Furthermore, the advantages of the arts go beyond reinforcing cultural identity, as they also contribute to the overall well-being of the community.

A Night of Inspiring Performances

On an unforgettable Tuesday evening, the Artscape stage welcomed the following participants who shared their narratives:

Cohen Erasmus – Manenberg
Abdullatief Davids – Mitchells Plain
Anthea Juries – Belhar
Chay Botman – Athlone
Keezin Mosime – Athlone
Zelda Ann Hintsa – Athlone

In addition, the 021 Movement, a dance troupe comprising a more extensive ensemble of performers, presented a dance piece titled “Odyssey.”

The Power of Storytelling method, a structured curriculum designed by DS Productions directors Dennis Stander and Devon Swartz, aims to assist individuals in crafting engaging monologues based on their life experiences. Swartz clarified that the process encourages participants to delve into their emotions, challenges, and personal journeys, allowing them to establish a profound connection with their audience through authenticity.

Cultivating the Next Generation of Storytellers

Artscape CEO Marlene Le Roux praised the impressive growth of the New Voices program, characterizing it as one of their annual flagship initiatives that offer a platform for young writers in need of opportunities to create and develop new work. The program employs staged readings with professional actors and directors to test out new material and potentially evolve them into full-length productions.

This year, the New Voices program was especially noteworthy, as it showcased eight staged readings, a full production, and a series of monologues by young Cape Flats writers. With the City of Cape Town’s backing, these gifted individuals brought the power of storytelling to the Artscape stage, potentially changing the direction of their lives and careers in the theatre industry.

The New Voices program serves as a testament to the undeniable power of storytelling and the impact it can have on individuals and communities alike. By cultivating and showcasing the talents of emerging creatives, the initiative is creating a new generation of storytellers who will captivate and inspire audiences for years to come. The partnership between the City of Cape Town, the Artscape Theatre, and the Arts and Culture Branch exemplifies what can be accomplished when communities unite to support and celebrate the arts.

1. What is the New Voices program at Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre?

2. What does the New Voices program aim to achieve?

The program aims to create a new generation of storytellers by cultivating and showcasing the talents of emerging creatives through a series of training, development, peer-to-peer learning, and collaborative sessions. It culminates in staged readings with professional actors and directors to test out new material and potentially evolve them into full-length productions.

3. Who supports the New Voices program?

The City of Cape Town’s Arts and Culture Branch supports the New Voices program.

4. How does the New Voices program help participants develop their skills?

Participants undergo a series of training, development, peer-to-peer learning, and collaborative sessions within the Cultural Mapping Planning and Arts Aweh! Programs to create stories that mirror their personal experiences and the unique circumstances that shaped their outlooks.

5. What kind of performances were showcased during the New Voices program?

The New Voices program showcased eight staged readings, a full production, and a series of monologues by young Cape Flats writers. Additionally, the 021 Movement, a dance troupe comprising a more extensive ensemble of performers, presented a dance piece titled “Odyssey.”

6. How does the Power of Storytelling method work?

The Power of Storytelling method is a structured curriculum designed by DS Productions directors Dennis Stander and Devon Swartz. The process encourages participants to delve into their emotions, challenges, and personal journeys, allowing them to establish a profound connection with their audience through authenticity.