Outside the Zolani Centre in Cape Town.
Another extraordinary day in our visit. We performed to a packed audience in the Zolani Centre in a Cape Town township, a very poor but extremely lively area. The Centre is a place for the arts, athletics (we saw a nice basketball gym) and education for young and old. It is directly across the street from a busy bus terminal and open market.
The theater at the Centre is a small proscenium with 6 lighting instruments and a low ceiling – so no set, minimal lighting, portable sound and Tim and the actors had to restage the entire play in 45 minutes.
The Zolani Centre entrance.
Well, it all worked and the show was terrific. Once again we had a strong response and the audience clearly understood and appreciated the play. One of the things I have been reminded on this trip is the universality of theatre. The audiences at the Zolani responded at the same moments in the play as in Syracuse. Tim led a great discussion after the play with many, many questions about the various themes in the play. One man thanked Tim, the cast, and the Baxter production staff for bringing the play to the township. He commented that when international events come to Cape Town they rarely go to the townships.
And we are not done. The actors are in the middle of 4 acting workshops at the Zolani and Tim returns next week for a directing workshop.
Zolani Centre.
Street view in the Township.
