Sibikwa Arts Centre’s MANTSOE AMACHA Youth Theatre Festival brings vibrant performances to Benoni

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On 10 December 2024, the MANTSOE AMACHA Youth Theatre Festival will light up the Sibikwa Arts Centre with 4 groundbreaking performances, by young artists from Gauteng. This 1-day festival, supported by the National Arts Council’s Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme, will bring audiences a mix of dynamic performances, and opportunities to connect with the artistic heartbeat of the community and the voices of our youth. The MANTSOE AMACHA Youth Theatre Festival is more than a showcase of talent; it is an entrepreneurial platform that empowers and enables connections among local performers, organisations, and the public.

This year, the festival features:

  • I’nkabi Zase Mzansi (The Dumb Waiter), directed by Smal Ndaba and Phyllis Klotz, and performed by young emerging artists Lukhanyo Titus and Mpho Mnisi promises to bring fresh energy and perspective to this timeless work. The play, a classic absurdist drama by Harold Pinter, delves into themes of miscommunication, power dynamics, and growing paranoia, reflecting on the human condition, and offering a gripping and thought-provoking theatrical experience.
  • Ignite the Mind II, directed by Tshiamo Maloka, is set against a backdrop of a close-knit family, stricken by a cloud of grief, telling a story of triumph, hope, and resilience, as a mother and her daughter navigate the metamorphosis of grief. Underscoring the idea that loss and grief are not just personal; they are a shared experience, the play invites audiences into the intimate world of family, memory, and identity. It is a powerful reflection on resilience and the enduring human spirit. Even in the face of profound loss, we find hope and meaning.
  • Mshovara, directed by Helman Mampa and starring Darlington Khoza, follows a young man who embarks on a journey to forge his path as an emerging artist, in a world fraught with obstacles and challenges. Driven by a desire to escape his circumstances and uplift others through his art, he confronts the relentless pressures of time and the encroaching barriers that threaten to stifle his dreams. As the walls close in around him, he must find a way to transcend his limitations and realize his vision before it is too late.
  • One of Our Clowns is Missing, directed and choreographed by Letho Ntshangase, is a fast-paced comedy that combines intrigue, humour, and chaos in a story filled with unexpected twists. The play follows Sandy, a quirky and well-meaning travel agent who unknowingly becomes entangled in a web of crime and confusion, and a police hunt for escaped mental institution patients.

Join us as we celebrate the power of youth, creativity, and community, at Sibikwa Arts Centre (Benoni) on 10 December 2024, from 10h30 – 14h00. Tickets are available at the door at R80 per person and give access to all performances. Tuckshop refreshments will be available for purchase.

For more information, please contact: Sipho Michael Mabena on 011 422 4359, or at michael@sibikwa.co.za.