Endorsed by the Western Cape Education Department, VersKabaret, along with Amaza (isiXhosa setwork) forms part of the Artscape educational youth development programme that aims to promote social cohesion, good citizenship and empowerment through the arts.

The high quality production is aimed at Grade 12 Afrikaans learners from the greater Cape Town area, who will get the opportunity to experience the play in their own language and further equip them with essential skills to become performers.

“The purpose of the educational programme is to assist grade 12 learners academically by presenting plays which are taught as literature on a theatre stage, therefore putting it in its intended setting”, says Marlene Le Roux, director for Artscape Audience Development and Education. “We will also be introducing learners to theatre and drama production of a high quality, thereby building the audience of the future.”

VersKabaret is a funky, colourful and entertaining journey through the complex landscape of Afrikaans prose, poets, song writers and composers. The production is specially devised and staged to engage Grade 12 learners with a visual narrative of their setworks giving them the opportunity to gain new and fresh insights into their study work. It literally grabs the words from the page and through songs, scene acting, lights, costumes and special effects splashes out a highly entertaining 70 minutes in celebration of Ingrid Jonker, David Kramer, Adam Small, Koos du Plessis, Peter Blum and many more.

The production is devised, directed and designed by Alfred Rietmann with musical arrangements by Emile Minnie and features well known works like So Long Skipskop, Nuus uit die Binneland, Vroegherfs, Last Grave at Dimbaza, Spore op die Maan and many more. A variety of theatrical devices like masks, puppets, movement, mime and stagy props are interwoven with moving renditions of great work and vaudeville style hilarity. The vibrant cast include: Charlton George, Simone Biscombe, Sean Cameron Michael, Aimee Valentine and Emile Minnie. Lighting design is by Franklyn Steyn.

Performance Dates:

Thursday, 8 May at 10:30;
Friday, 9 May at 10:30 and 19:30;
Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 14:00 and 19:30;
Monday, 12 May at 10:30;
Tuesday, 13 May at 10:30;
Wednesday, 14 May at 10:30;
Thursday, 15 May at 10:30;
Friday, 16 May at 10:30; and
Saturday, 17 May 2014 at 14:00.

Booking can be done by phoning Artscape Dial-A-Seat on 021 421 7695 or visiting www.artscape.co.za. Alternatively, phone Computicket on 0861 915 8000 or visit www.computicket.com.

For more information on production and ticket bookings (at R40 per person), phone Nolan Africa, Artscape School Liaison Unit Coordinator on 021 410 9927 or email [email protected].