A new colourful Capetonian musical, depicting the daily struggles as well as the challenges that young people are facing on a daily basis is currently on show at the Artscape Theatre.
The Octaves theatre musical is a family story about a group of students, full of life and endless opportunities, struggling to speak their first language – music – and due to family restrictions, personal issues and their daily struggles, they come together in their music room, a place to let go and perform their fears away.
According to Creative Director and Director of Im_Media House, Imaan Anders, she aims to use this production as an upliftment programme for the boy sitting on the street corner with an obsession for fiddling with street cables because he loves lighting, or the young girl who sings in her mirror every day with a brush in her hand because she envisions herself onstage in singing to an audience but lacks the resources to do so or get there.
“It was a few months ago where a friend and I sat thinking about strategic ways to bring the community into this production so we could all “eat from the same pie,” Anders said.
Anders, who is also new to the theatre scene wrote this production in 2014 for TV Broadcast but had to hold onto it for some time as the storyline lacked some colour. She wasn’t sure if she had to tell her story from a racial perspective but that was impossible as she could only try to tell it from a Coloured’s.
However, Anders didn’t stop there. She later approached the Artscape for space and had to change it from TV to theatre. Thankfully, they accepted.
“It was when we decided to add the upliftment programme that changed my thinking and motivated me to do this now more than ever as it meant I could give back or assist someone who really needed to step up and it’s those types of gestures that pushes me everyday, aiding others,” Anders said.
The production also has an amazing writing team, headed by Daniel Mpilo Richards, who isn’t new to theatre. He played the role of Bernardo, a gang member in the famous West Side amongst many successful shows.
Mitchells Plain actor, Luke Buys, who plays the role of Marko, went on to describe his journey with the production as amazing – spiritually and creatively.
“Meeting like-minded artists and having the opportunity to share the stage with brilliant, talented and crazy individuals has been an immense booster spiritually and artistically. Personally, I have achieved and reached quite a few goals and being part of this production in its entirety has been a blessing to my soul and the Artist in Me!,” Buys said.
Meanwhile, Anders also encouraged people to come out and support the musical that is currently on show at the Artscape Theatre from October 14 until the 23rd.
“I’m appealing to you to come on board and assist me in whichever way possible, financially or product that would suit production or any contribution towards making this journey successful for the community,” she said.
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Picture: Supplied
