The Novel-Script Project

The 2013 version of the Novel-Script project brought together writers from The Netherlands, South Africa and Zimbabwe in an intensive script-writing workshop which benefitted writers and actors alike. Feedback from the writers was very positive, and all felt that they had benefitted from the workshop process as well as the exchange element of the workshop.

Lindelwa Kisana from South Africa commented: “This was a great experience… It was a very welcoming atmosphere and the workshop was at another level – I loved the process with the actors involved. I have learnt a lot.”
Jibbe Willems from the Netherlands commented: “The fast working pressure and the feedback system was very good. I liked the feedback from writers, actors and directors, because it gives you different takes… I was very happy to have this opportunity.”
Zimbabwean writer, Elton Mjanana commented: “New tools have been added to my approach and to my writing and the way I work. More pages have been added to my book of knowledge, and that’s priceless…”
The scripts are currently being collated into a publication of six new scripts inspired by the novel “The Miracle of Crocodile Flats” by Jenny Hobbs, and will be released later this year.
The project was made possible through funding from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with additional support from Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

NAF Fringe Productions from the Netherlands / local exchange

Twist supported two productions from the Netherlands at the National Arts Festival Fringe, “By Bye World” and “Florence, Foster Jenkins”. The groups presenting these works met with the Twist-associated theatre groups, Intuba Arts Development, Umsindo theatre Projects, and Mncube Productions. The South African and Dutch groups watched each other’s work, and engaged in discussion sessions afterwards, sharing creative techniques and story-telling processes. The Dutch group also facilitated a mime and movement workshop with the groups.

The groups commented: “We would like to thank Twist for giving us a great opportunity to work with the Dutch groups and the connection doesn’t stop, as we would like to do some more collaboration with them in the future.”
This project was made possible through funding from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Search is on for new groups
Twist is in the process of signing a contract with a new funder, and is also meeting with new groups who will be included in the 2013-2014 cycle of the project. To date, we have made contact with 16 groups who have approached Twist in the past, and will be in discussions with Twist about participation in the programmes going forward.