Media Release:
Funded by the National Arts Council, the Dept. Cultural Affairs and Sport and the Makwande Empowerment Trust and produced in collaboration with our long-time mentors at the Centre for Humanities Research at the University of the Western Cape, this year’s Show, WALKING TALL, was inspired by a visit to the Genadendal Mission Station, established by Moravians in 1738 near present-day Caledon.
In spite of fierce resistance from the local colonialists, Genadendal (Valley of Mercy), it provided a place of refuge for indigenous KhoeKhoe people forced into serfdom by the early colonialists and harshly treated, as were the Slaves they worked alongside.
The arrival of the British in the 1800’s followed by the abolition of slavery brought an influx of newly freed slaves from all over the Cape to the Mission.
So that everyone in these new crowds could be educated, the Moravian Mission established the first Teachers’ Training College in the country in 1838.
Our Show celebrates this momentous event while nevertheless looking at the Galant Slave Rebellion and the ambiguities of colonialism.
Walking Tall is directed by our Joint Centre Manager, Sudonia Kouter, supported by a Net vir Pret production team in designing and creating original music and sound, costumes, small puppets, props and children’s puppets.
The production will feature a huge cast of young puppeteers, actors, musicians and dancers drawn from our village and the surrounding farms.
The Show will also feature two new Giant Puppets, a Jackal and a Giraffe, both under
construction by our partners at the Ukwanda Puppetry Collective.
Joint Centre Manager, Herman Witbooi is designing and building the set and also creating the Jackal puppet.
