Spotlight: Empowering theatre for WOMEN'S DAY

The power of women is celebrated through the power of theatre on 9 August 2019. Capetonians have a range of productions to choose from this Women's Day. We share our top three choices here.

Theatre doyenne, Sandra Prinsloo breathes life into harrowing personal story at Artscape Theatre, as part of the Artscape Women’s Humanity Arts Festival. Kamphoer: die verhaal van Susan Nell, presented by Theatrerocket, is based on the true story of Susan Nell, who, during the Anglo-Boer War (1899 to 1902) was raped and left for dead in a concentration camp in Winburg. In later years, she again crossed paths with that of her rapist. The play considers what transpired. This stage production is an adaptation of Francois Smit’s award-winning novel of the same name. Directed by the multi award-winning Lara Foot, the play premiered at the Vrystaat Kunstefees in Bloemfontein a few weeks ago, with critics calling it a “tour de force” and describing Prinsloo’s performance as “nothing short of dynamic”. There are two Friday performances and tickets are R120 per person. Book tickets online through Computicket.

At the Baxter Theatre, Tankiso Mamabolo takes to the Golden Arrow Studio with Tankiso Live: THE AUDACITY TO BE. Tankiso has made it her business to take protest and turn it into educational and engaging material in the form of original music, spoken word and the use of projected imagery and comedy. Her music deals with a range of topics, from childhood experiences, loss, heartbreak, love, oppression, marginalization to hope and healing in an attempt to promote self-discovery and ownership of one’s narrative. She does this by centering the stories of black women and writing from their point of view. Tickets range from R60 to R120 and can be booked online through Webtickets.

Inner City Ideas Cartel & The Sugar-daddy Theatre company present a one off performance of VDAY 2019 to celebrate Women`s Day. VDAY is a ground-breaking collection of monologues by world-renowned authors and playwrights, edited by Eve Ensler and Mollie Doyle. By bringing together diverse voices, VDAY inspires women to rise up in a collective roar to break open, expose, and examine the insidiousness of violence at all levels: brutality, neglect, a punch, even a put-down. Sugar-daddy presents an updated version of `A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer` by special arrangement with the VDAY foundation & Eve Ensler. Pair a thought-provoking play with great heart —all proceeds going to charity— and you get the promise of an empowering theatre experience. VDAY: A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant & A Prayer will be staged at The Foundry. Tickets are R80 per person and can be booked online through Computicket.