The official launch of the annual Zabalaza Festival was held at the Baxter Theatre last Friday.
This is the festival’s ninth year. The programme gives up-and-coming theatre-makers and artists a chance to show what they can do.
Schools and non-profits were invited to the launch and had a sneak preview of nine of the 39 plays to be staged during this year’s festival from Friday March 8 to Saturday March 16.
Many of the schools that will attend are from areas like Khayelitsha, Langa, Mfuleni, Nyanga and Philippi East and the Zabalaza organisers will be helping them with transport.
Various schools, non-profit organisations and performers at the launch at the Baxter Theatre.
Bruce Geza performing with two puppets in the play, Jojo.
The Zabalaza team, from left, are Bongile Mantsai, Jestine Sias, Zoleka Helesi, Monde Myataza and Mdu Kweyama.
Python and the Qunube Tree was one of the short plays th audience got to
see. From left, are Naledi Tlailane, Siyakandisa Badi and Vincent Meybergh from Jungle Theatre
company.
Ongeziwe Badi and Pharie Sefali from Peace Centre South Africa in Khayelitsha and Christie van Zyl from Ubombam Luvuyo LGBTI Traditional Healers Forum, Western Cape.
Mondeka Mabibini from Uphawu Community Development in Philippi and Thuli Mbete from Embrace Dignity who work in areas like Nyanga, Philippi, Mfuleni and Gugulethu.
