MA Final Project | The Park
Title
MA Final Project | The Park
Department
Theatre
Keywords
Black African Women
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Healing
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Decolonisation
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Practice as Research
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Autoethnography
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Production Type
Masters Final Production
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Description
We have experienced multiple forms of trauma that often sit in our bodies, on our skin, and find insidious ways of seeping into our consciousness and contorting how we may think of ourselves.
- Namanzi Choongo Mweene Chinyama, 2017
Thandeka finds herself with her head in the clouds and in The Park. This time in a pretentious park filled with people walking, kissing, and playing with their dogs while drinking overpriced Ethiopian roasted bean park coffee, people engaging in exercise: yoga, boxing, jogging, running- what are they running from?! Nanny’s sitting, chatting, and watching over children, black brothers in blue overalls manicuring the lawns and others in bright orange bibs safeguarding the space. Keeping it safe from who?
This piece explores how race was designed in South Africa and the characters are presented with a whole of shit. Rage, fear, and doubt penetrate their seemingly blissful exterior as Thandeka grief opens wounds and finds herself questioning how she has come to understand her success and place in the world. She is living in a system that has failed her and the play explores the well-meaning lies we tell ourselves about freedom, equality and about justice. The tension comes to a head when the truth about how she feels about herself is revealed.
There is something leaking, and tension builds as Thandeka unearths the truth of what she is thinking.
- Namanzi Choongo Mweene Chinyama, 2017
Thandeka finds herself with her head in the clouds and in The Park. This time in a pretentious park filled with people walking, kissing, and playing with their dogs while drinking overpriced Ethiopian roasted bean park coffee, people engaging in exercise: yoga, boxing, jogging, running- what are they running from?! Nanny’s sitting, chatting, and watching over children, black brothers in blue overalls manicuring the lawns and others in bright orange bibs safeguarding the space. Keeping it safe from who?
This piece explores how race was designed in South Africa and the characters are presented with a whole of shit. Rage, fear, and doubt penetrate their seemingly blissful exterior as Thandeka grief opens wounds and finds herself questioning how she has come to understand her success and place in the world. She is living in a system that has failed her and the play explores the well-meaning lies we tell ourselves about freedom, equality and about justice. The tension comes to a head when the truth about how she feels about herself is revealed.
There is something leaking, and tension builds as Thandeka unearths the truth of what she is thinking.
Language
English
isiXhosa
Script Type
Devised
Year Created
2022
Opening Date
28 September 2022
Closing Date
29 September 2022
Start Time
20h00
Performance Venue
Geographic Location of Performance
Cape Town
Producer
CTDPS
Co Production with
ReTAGS
Director
Linked resources
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| Title | Class | |
|---|---|---|
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The Park poster |
Poster |
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The Park production album | Image |
