Struck Silent, the second dynamic collaboration between the Baxter Theatre Centre and Sweden’s Scenkonst Sörmland comes to the Baxter Flipside for one week only.
Following the success of I Hit the Ground Running last year, comes the second dynamic collaboration between the Baxter Theatre Centre and Scenkonst Sörmland (Sweden), Struck Silent.
South African choreographer Ananda Fuchs once again teams with Swedish composer Tebogo Monnakgotla to create a new work of dance and theatre.
The global economy and its effect on the individual come under the spotlight again in this contemporary dance piece with a specific focus on senior citizens. Two focus groups came together in South Africa and in Sweden to talk about second lives, post-retirement, fulfilling unrealised dreams and the relationship between them and the systems which are in place. Out of this research Struck Silent was born.
The best of Swedish and South African talent comes together in this unique creative collaboration. This time the development of the production took place in Sweden where it will have its world premiere at the brand-new premises of the Performing Arts Sörmlandsleden in Munktellstaden, Eskilstuna.
The dancers are Gunilla Hammar (Sweden) and Shaun Oelf and Thabisa Dinga from Cape Town, while the three musicians Åsa Karlberg (flute), Elemér Lavotha (cello) and Jonny Axelsson (percussion), are all from Sweden. Grant van Ster is the assistant choreographer, costume and set design is by Wiklund Wiklund (Sweden), lighting design by the Baxter’s head of lighting, Bennie Arendse, and Oscar O’Ryan is responsible for videography and photography.
Baxter CEO and artistic director Lara Foot and Scenkonst Sörmland director Maria Weisby met in Johannesburg in 1996 and realised straight-away that they shared a common interest in and curiosity about how society works, how politics affects theatre and how theatre can transform society. “We believe it is serendipitous that now, more than a decade later, we find ourselves involved with and responsible for this incredibly dynamic project and collaboration,” says Foot. “It has been funded as an exchange that would involve research groups. This means that it allows the art to come directly from civil society and in turn it is filtered through the artists.”
This joint venture with the Baxter Theatre Centre is a three-year project with a view to create and develop a new and different work each year.
WHERE: Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch 7700, Cape Town
WHEN: Struck Silent previews at the Baxter Flipside on 9 September, opens on 10 September and runs until 13 September at 6.30pm nightly, with a matinee on Saturday, 13 September at 2pm. There is a schools performance at 11am on Thursday 11 September.
TICKETS: cost R100 and booking is through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet.
For discounted school or group block bookings, fundraisers or charities contact Sharon Ward on 021 680 3962 or email sharon.ward@uct.ac.za or Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993 or email her at carmen.kearns@uct.ac.za.
