This play gives a new take on environmental issues using puppetry and African folk lore to drive the point home. Young actors Xola, Andiswa, Yolisa, Annelisa, Ntosh and Nwabisa all from Walmer Township have the audience in stiches with their big talent and pint size puppets that speak a clear message - The responsibility is with all of us to keep the environment clean!

1. Leave a legacy not a mess!
Drama Project
April 2011 – December 2011,
Walmer Township
Concept
Port Elizabeth, April 2011

2. Drama project: Leave a legacy not a mess Concept
Overview
The aim of the project “Leave a legacy, not a mess” is to educate
children in Port Elizabeth, with a specific focus on Walmer Township,
about the importance of keeping our environment clean. With the
help of theatrical disciplines such as physical theatre, puppetry and
improvisational theatre, ten High school learners from Walmer
Township will develop a play that will illustrate the dangers of
pollution. They will then stage and perform the play at different
primary schools in Port Elizabeth. At the end of each performance
the audience will be involved through a discussion on the topics
highlighted in the play. This allows the reinforcement of Masifunde “Walmer side of love”
Learner Developments goal to create a multiplier process, where role script workshop Jan 2011
with Sinje Homann (Swiss)
models are given the opportunity to transfer gained knowledge to their
community members.
Our experience
In Walmer Township, where Masifunde is stationed, there are high levels of pollution
which pose serious risks, not only to the environment, but also to
the health of its residents and as children are more susceptible to
the hazards of pollution it is becoming a growing concern. Our life
skills training programme, “Learn4Life!” focuses on imparting
general life skills with the goal of developing role models in the
youth of Walmer Township. We have found that our learners are
informed about the challenges of greener living, but struggle to
implement practical solutions. Therefore, our programme engages
its participants to reflect on their behaviour and come up with
feasible solutions. To reach the community with this approach we
make use of one of our established tools, our drama group, “Born Free”.
Lungani Hewana
This group allows us to use the stage as a medium where by a mirror can BORN FREE actor
be held up to the community through which they can reflect their own
actions and analyse their own behaviour.
Masifunde Learner Development
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3. Drama project: Leave a legacy not a mess Concept
Plot
A fictitious village with inhabitants based on African folk creatures represents the
community of Walmer Township with its hegemonic figures and the ideologies of its
residents. The audience witness the cause and effect of pollution. In this way the
audience can be taught new habits and an environmentally friendly behaviour can be
engaged.
The audience will meet the protagonist who has little regard for the environment and
does not believe that his actions are harmful in any way, but as they soon will learn his
attitude and reckless behaviour will spark a catastrophe that could doom himself and his
friends. With help from his friends and the input of the audience our protagonist will
soon learn the error of his ways and vows to be more responsible when it comes to
pollution.
The play will be interactive and will focus on learning
through a fun and enjoyable medium.
After the play the actors will hold a discussion with
the children about the dangers of pollution and will
guide them on correct ways of disposing of waste
materials.
“Walmer side of love” performance 2011
Goal
Children are often confronted with the topics such as
pollution, global warming and other environmental issues as part of their curriculum at
schools. Schools however, focus on a detailed transference of information which children
may learn as fact, but may disregard as a new topic arises. Our projects approach
intends to cultivate an interest and nurture an opinion within the child. The child may
later apply this knowledge, not because they are instructed to do so, but because they
have been given the opportunity to witness cause and effect and deduce their own
solutions to the problem at hand. As children at this age are more likely to be taught
new habits we find it imperative to reach them now while we are still able to make a
difference.
Masifunde Learner Development
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4. Drama project: Leave a legacy not a mess Concept
Relevance of the project
South Africa as a developing country with a growing economy is
one of the biggest contributors of greenhouse gasses and carbon
emissions in the world. As the South African government has
dedicated itself to lowering its carbon emissions drastically by the
year 2020 and various campaigns such as the ’’carbon free zone’’
have been launched we find it imperative to include this as a topic
of education. There are many contributions to a cleaner
environment that can be made by local government and the private
sector, but all those efforts mean nothing if the attitude of the
individual remains unchanged. As there are very few campaigns
currently focussed on the youth as such we find it imperative
that new methods are created to educate children on the
. “Walmer side of love”
impact their efforts may have to create a clean and sustainable physical theatre workshop Nov 2010
planet for all to enjoy. with Xabiso Zweni
Target group
The drama project “Leave a legacy, not a mess” is intended for two different target
groups.
The first target group are the ten actors of the existing drama group. Prior to the success
of their previous project: “The Walmer side of love!” they had received a years training
under professional guidance in basic acting skills, improvisation, characterisation and
scene building. This new project will give them scope to learn advanced skills in specific
theatre methods such as physical theatre or mask theatre, and connected disciplines
such as stage lighting and script writing. Through this process during which their talents
and skills will be developed, the actors will learn to produce a high quality product for
stage that will positively influence their self esteem while strengthening their ability to
work in a group based dynamic. In addition to this, the
project enables them to develop their social skills based on
a common interest, strengthen their personalities and
develop a healthy sense of personal pride through their
own hard work and achievement.
The second target group are the pupils of the primary
schools in Walmer, Port Elizabeth, where the play will be
performed. With the 14 planned performances, 1,900
learners can be reached. As the audience will be involved
in the actions of the play, they will become aware of their Simbulele Khonzani
own environment and habits and can so be compelled to make changes that actor BORN FREE
Masifunde Learner Development
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5. Drama project: Leave a legacy not a mess Concept
can positively affect their community. The message of “Leave a legacy not a mess” is not
only conveyed at eye level, from learner to learner, but will be deepened by the learners
themselves during the discussion.
The working methode
During the month of April the already existing drama group, will
be completed by other High school learners from the Walmer
Township selected through an audition process. These ten
learners will practice on a weekly base for 3 hours under the
guidance of professional actor George van Rooyen, who develops
the script, concept and characters involved.
The actors will be cast in their roles based on their individual
strengths and will be trained to hyper extend these stage
personas with the help of physical theatre workshops.
With this foundation the group will work in three methods. For
some scenes the group will do improvisations in order to identify poster 2011
realistic conflicts and solutions. Based on this, the director will
write the scenes. Secondly, other scenes will be pre-written by him, to give the actors
the opportunity to learn to textually analyse characters’ motivations and to transfer it
from the page into stage action. Lastly other dialoges or monologes will be written by
the actors themselves to develop their script writing and story telling skills.
With the further development of the play the group will create their own props and
costumes.
This process is lead by the director through weekly rehearsals up to November 2011. It
will be supported by monthly specific workshops lead by him or external professionals.
Based on the development phase of the play the group will be trained
accordingly in the specific skills needed, namely physical theatre, script
writing, prop- and costume construction and make-up and lighting
design. Since the success of the play is based on the physical approach
of the story and the handling of the costumes and props, depending on
the funds, the group will receive an intensive workshop on “comedia
del arte” of 5days in the spring holidays.
With the final rehearsals in November 2011 the script will be partly
translated in the Xhosa to be able to reach the primary school
learners.
Afterwards in November and December 2011 the group will perform
their play in the primary schools in Walmer, Port Elizabeth. Press picture Oct 2010
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6. Drama project: Leave a legacy not a mess Concept
Organisation
As mentioned, the actors are lead by the director George van Rooyen, who is in charge
of the development of the play and the rehearsals. He will work together with external
workshop leaders for the mentioned specific needs.
The director is supported by a project coordinator, who supports with organisational
matters. She will handle the communication to Masifunde and its resources, to parents,
schools and stages. At the same time she assists with community based questions and
with the translation of the script as well as the development and leading of the
discussion round after the performances.
The success of the projects depends on the professional guidance of the director and the
running of additional workshops as well as on the translation of the script.
Contact
Masifunde Learner Development
www.masifunde.com
postal: P.O. Box 5191 physical: 40 Main Road phone:
6065 Walmer 6070 Walmer + 27 / 41 / 581 25 43
Port Elizabeth Port Elizabeth
project coordinator: Zingisa Sofoyiya
cell: +27 /
@masifunde.de
director: George van Rooyen
cell: + 27 / 82 / 255 71 97
director George van Rooyen
Masifunde Learner Development
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