UKZN Exchange

Twist Group Siyathuthuka Arts performed their work “A men to We-men” at the Drama Department of the University of KwaZulu-Natal Howard College campus in March to a large group of students, who were excited by the work’s poetic content and style, and were intrigued to hear about the community group and how Twist works. We hope this is the start of an ongoing relationship with UKZN and look forward to future collaborations.

Twist in Rotterdam
Previous Twist group members from Umsindo Projects, Siso and Goso Shabalala, worked with the Dutch-based Stut Theatre Group to create a new work that premiered at the International Community Arts Festival to great acclaim in Rotterdam on 28 March. Twist programme manager Emma Durden and co-founder Jerry Pooe were also in Rotterdam, networking, taking part in seminars and watching performances from community arts groups around the world. Emma facilitated a well-attended seminar on community theatre models, theatre economics and sustainable practice in South Africa.

Twist at KKNK
After many years of an informal partnership with the Klein Karoo Kunstefees, Twist Projects was able this year to use funds from the Netherlands Embassy to bring a production from the Netherlands to play at the festival in April. ‘The Tatiana Aarons Experience’ was well received and had extremely good reviews in the festival paper, Krit. Actor, Tom Struyf co-facilitated a workshop for drama students from George High School and Stellenbosch University as part of the festival’s development programme, ‘Klap’. Feedback from these enthusiastic students, who had seen the show the previous evening, was that “they had never seen anything like it” and “didn’t want to miss a single word he said”. They said that the show and the workshop left them feeling motivated and hopeful.

Groups’ new work
The four Twist groups have been working together with established theatre makers to create new work which premiers at the Wushwini Arts centre’s Uhuru International Arts Festival from 11 to 13 April. Shows include Sinethemba’s “Midnight Spirits” Siyathuthuka’s “Pay Day” on Friday and Izwi Youth Group’s “Inhlambuluko” and Lashona Arts’ “Silent Cry” on Saturday.

Dutch performance at Wushwini Arts Centre
As part of the Uhuru Arts Festival, Twist is hosting the Netherlands-based performance group “Poolse Vis” for the production of their exciting physical theatre piece “Tea” at 1 pm on Friday and 6 pm on Saturday at the Wushwini Arts Centre. The team will also be giving a physical theatre workshop for the Twist groups while they are in Durban. The group is brought out with funding from the Netherlands Embassy.

TWIST THEATRE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IS SUPPORTED BY
THE NATIONAL LOTTERY DISTRIBUTION TRUST FUND (NLDTF) AND THE KZN DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE
THE EMBASSY OF THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS