Award winning theatre, right on your doorstep
By Jessica Hewson
Next time you find yourself on the corner of Milton Road and Wesley Street, looking up at the stone Help walled Methodist Church Hall, step inside, into our space.
You will find a thriving realm of artistic alchemy.
The Theatre Arts Admin Collective (TAAC) has been creating new and experimental theatre right here in the heart of Observatory since 2009. We feed off this neighbourhood's vibrancy.
Obs is renowned for being a multi-cultural melting pot. This diversity is reflected in the theatre makers and the work coming into being.
The artists and theatre practitioners who enter our space are encouraged to innovate in all aspects of their work. We champion inclusivity and accessibility. As Caroline Calburn (TAAC director) said:"It needs to feel like a space that remains full of potential. That you can experiment and fail dismally if you need to. That it cuts through perceptions of what theatre is and who theatre is for."
During the day and evening, the venue can be hired out for very affordable rates. We have three beautiful spaces in which people can play and create.
The Main Hall of the Church plays host to in-house and external productions on a regular basis. The acoustics are amazing. The stage and seating can be designed in any way.
Some of the top South African theatre work is being cultivated here. Kleisand is the theatre company resident until the end of 2017. Founder Jason Jacobs is a multi talented theatre practitioner.
He was one of the 2016 recipients of our Theatre Arts Admin Collective Emerging Theatre Director's Bursary. This programme provides opportunity for four emerging directors annually to each create a new piece of work under mentorship.
2016 saw vastly different productions come to light under the Emerging Theatre Directors Bursary. Mahlatsi Mokgonyana chose to direct Athol Fugard's My Children My Africa to great acclaim.
Wynne Bredenkamp staged the beautifully evocative At the Edge of the Light and Ameera Conrad's politically conscious Reparation played to full houses and will be featuring at the National Arts Festival this year.
Kati Francis will be our resident artist from 20th February to 11th March. Kati is a community participatory theatre specialist from the UK. Kati will be exploring Haiku Theatre - Performance Provocations in Public Spaces.
TAAC is also involved in creating innovative children's theatre.
A fantastic schools programme is running this month called I Am Also. The double bill of performances and a chaired conversation by Sonke Gender Justice will focus on what it takes to be seen, felt and heard as a young South African man.
2017 has already seen much activity. We hosted a board games party by Meeples on the Move, as well as an exploratory collaborative multi-media evening, The Window. The inaugural African Women Playwrights Network Symposium took place on the first weekend of February.
The diversity of what occurs speaks to TAAC's vision as an incubator space and lab of experimentation and innovation.
This is all happening right here in your hood - unheard of ticket prices and no petrol cost. www.theatrearts.co.za Contact 021 447 3683. Email calburn@mweb.co.za