A Conspiracy Of Clowns

Phew, so…well, this is vaguely embarrassing – I’m sure the 2 readers that we used to have (no, it’s not our moms) must have gotten the hell in and gone over to the YOU blogs or something…but slowly slowly the Conspiracy wakes up and will soon return to the fray with more zing and spring than before.  Yes!  To entertain and edify (ed – que?) you, and bring back the snappy tales you know and love.

OK, that whiffle done, this is a shout out to say yeah, we’re back, and there’s news and stuff, which we’ll get to soon…and not one, no, but TWO new shows a-comin’ up in the not so distant future. Yes, TWO.  We’re so super impressed with that that I put that in caps…kinda like I’m shouting.  Geddit?

Welcome back the two of you cry…why thank you.  Apologies for radio silence, and from on in the Conspiracy will endeavour like never (heh! rhymes!) before to keep you on your toes, on the edge of your seats, and head in the wild blue magic of it all.

Watch this face for details…

There’s a new voice out there, spinning tales of theatrics and offering a fresh perspective on theatre in Cape Town.  She’s cool, smart, funny, sassy - check out Ms Carla Lever here.

 AUDITION NOTICE: Performer-Manipulator

Written by Lara Foot, and developed in collaboration with Leila Henriques, Brian Webber, and Joss Levine, Womb Tide was first performed to high acclaim in 1996.

At its heart, Womb Tide is an unconventional love story. Told through the memory of a child, Womb Tide is at once deeply moving, funny, dark, heartbreaking, and ultimately redemptive. Set in the mid to late twentieth century South Africa, it follows an eccentric and somewhat dysfunctional family through a story of love, loss and hope, and paints an impressionistic portrait of the complexities of family life.

More than just simply a remounting, Womb Tide is a complete overhaul of the original story, given FTH:K’s approach to creating fresh, startling, visually accessible work. Featuring a stellar crew of collaborators, Womb Tide is a paean to love and perseverance and a tour de force of visual and physical storytelling.

Directed by Rob Murray

Design by Craig Leo, Leila Anderson, and Emilie Starke

Sound Design by James Webb and Brydon Bolton

AUDITIONS (in the form of a workshop) will be held:

Date: Wednesday 28 April 2010

Venue: Arts Admin Theatre, Corner of Wesley and Milton Road, Observatory, Cape Town

Time: 09h00-12h00 (please arrive 08h30 to register)

We are casting for the character of the KID. In the play, the KID injects a chaotic energy into the lives of his mother and father that binds the family together closely. Participants need to be able to play both young and old, exhibit a youthful energy and the spirit of a clown. Participants should have experience of working within an ensemble-based, devised theatre process. Physical performance skill (mime/clown/physical theatre/movement) is a must, and experience in puppet manipulation a bonus, though not necessary.

Dress comfortably for a physical performance/puppet manipulation workshop.

Rehearsal Dates: May/June 2010

Performance Dates:

• 22 June – 7 July 2010 (National Arts Festival & National Schools’ Festival)
• 22 August – 27 September 2010 (Market Theatre, JHB)
• 28 September – 3 October 2010 (Aardklop, TBC)
• 8 November – 4 December 2010 (Baxter Theatre, Cape Town)

For more information, or to book your place, please contact Tanya Surtees on 021-448-2838 or email tink@fthk.co.za and send through an updated CV by Monday 26 April 2010.

Yep – this time next week, QUACK! will have finished its first performance at the Out the Box Festival.  Can’t wait!  Excitement is mounting…

Here, Granny models the latest in our thinking of developed make-up for the characters. 

The first person to even mutter “Avatar” gets taken round the back and beaten with a rolled up newspaper.  You have been warned. 

(And besides, we’ve been tinkering with this idea looooong before that movie came out…so there…)

It’s on, folks – QUACK! performs at Out the Box Festival: Thurs 25 March 6pm, Fri 26 March 7pm, and Sat 27 March at 5pm, at The Arena Theatre, Hiddingh Campus.  Book now at Computicket.

Meanwhile, check out the latest teaser by those Yawazzi guys.  Awesome!

I’d love to take credit for having come up with that, but it belongs to the most beloved Tink.  We’re pleased as all hell to introduce a short promo of QUACK! where the cast and crew talk about the process, as well as the audience having their say.  Made by Sanjin of those awesome Yawazzi guys.

Don’t forget – QUACK! on at Out the Box Festival: 25, 26, and 27 March at the Arena Theatre…book now at Computicket.

And so, it is nearly upon us…drum roll…the 2010 edition of Out the Box Festival of Puppetry and Visual Performance!

We’re busy putting new ideas into place for QUACK! – a small shuffling of roles, a combining of masks, and a developing of story.  We’re never quite just finished with a work, hell no.  Always something to fiddle and poke around at.  Ees the way we like it.

But it’s gonna be a blast – check out the website for more details, there are some awesome sounding performances, workshops, and talks going on.

This is why Cape Town is the cultural centre of SA.  This is why we have the reputation for ground-breaking and innovative work.  This is where it’s at.

And that, as they say, is that. Another closing night, we’re pleased to say another standing ovation, and now Pictures 0f You rests until June and the NAF.

It’s been a great 2 week return season – we fell agonisingly short of our ambitious audience target, but audience turnout and response has been awesome.  What’s really great has been people returning 3 or 4 times, and still enthusing. Love it when a show touches the audience in such a way.

Without hardly missing a beat, we turn to QUACK! for Out the Box, then 2 brand new pieces in April/May. Whoo hoo! The year unfolds magnificently…

Unbelievably, we are down to the last few shows of Pictures of You at the Baxter.  These 2 weeks seem to have flown by.

It’s been so awesome to have a return season – another first for us. Back when we were planning it, we all felt that 2 weeks would be enough, but by the evidence of things now, we’re starting to wish we’d made that 3. The buzz is back, the word is out, and audiences have been streaming through the doors. Our “Tuesday is Twos-day 2 for 1 special” has been particularly successful – seems everyone loves a special, and it looks set to become an institution for us.

Reviews have been good too – we thought we wouldn’t get any this year cos of a media blitz last year, but come they have.

The Writing Studio said: "If you’re looking for a magical visual experience that flirts just at the edge of reason, you’re in for a treat. Ready…engage right brain hemisphere…go!" 

The Citizen said: "a remarkable theatre experience: unnerving,funny and poignant."  

Artslink called it "phenomenal". 

Bizcommunity said: "…this is a show that you have to watch if you have only a the tiniest bit of respect for the performing arts." 

And Cape Times said: "the actors perform with the stilted gestures of arthritic robots…vapid staginess…typicality, stock situation and allusion: they suggest a director who doesn’t observe people and uses style to not get real."

Heh. At least it can’t be said that we don’t provoke a reaction!

Ends this Saturday at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio. This will be the last of Pictures of You in Cape Town for no doubt a long time, so we’re going all out to end in conspiracy stylee!

Vluit-vluit doe storie’s uit!  Yep – Pictures of You gets 2 nods for the 2009 Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards: firstly, Janni Younge (who seems to be an awards magnet right now – rock on!) is nominated in the category for Best Props and/or Puppetry Design for the masks, and Rob Murray is nominated for Best Lighting Design.  We’re pretty stoked, as you can imagine, here at Conspiracy HQ, and look forward to the swanky gala affair on 21 March at the Baxter Theatre.  Keep ‘em crossed!

And, if that’s not enough, Janni is also nominated in the same category of Best Props and/or Puppetry Design for the masks for QUACK! and for the puppets in The Tempest. Seems like its her category this year!  How cool is that?  And how cool is it that visual theatre is finally getting the attention it deserves? Right on Fleur du Cap, and right on cape Town!

For a full list of all the nominations, check here at Artslink. Congratulations all for a bumper year and see y’all at the Awards Evening.