“It's a chance for young people to feel as if they're being heard; it's a chance for older people to come and listen and remember what it was like to be young and angry and scared and passionate about this country.”
This was how Ameera Conrad, curator of The Fall, described the show, which was an unprecedented, sold-out success last year.
The Fall returns to the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio during youth month from June 8 to 24 to tell the candid story of the experiences of seven UCT graduates during the #RhodesMustFall and subsequent student movements.
The Fall tackles institutionalised racism, patriarchy, colourism, transphobia and class - all within the space of less than 90 minutes.
The production is facilitated by Clare Stopford and curated by Ameera Conrad and Thando Mangcu, two members of the collective.
The cast comprises Conrad (Don't Shoot the Harbinger, People Beneath Our Feet); Oarabile Ditsele (Woza Albert, Identirrhaging); Tankiso Mamabolo (Nothing But the Truth, Fabulous Nothing); Mangcu (Don't shoot the Harbinger, The Shipment); Sizwesandile Mnisi (Woza Albert, Connestion to Home); Sihle Mnqwazana (My Children! My Africa, Identirrhaging); and Cleo Raatus (Black Dog/inj’emnyama, District Six Kanala).
“We essentially felt like there was a gap in the narrative at the time.
"We felt like lots of voices were going around, the university, the media, certain students, but everything was very distancing and didn't give the human perspective,” Conrad said.
“We wanted to tell the stories of seven real people who were going through real traumas.
"It's very easy to portray the student movement as a mob and forget that there are actual people with hopes and dreams and fears who exist within the movement.”
She said the team was overwhelmed by how people felt connected to the stories of the characters.
“We want to open spaces for dialogues to happen, and then for those dialogues to turn into actual results,” Conrad said.
The show will also be running a shoe drive alongside the production, so audiences are asked to bring any school shoes or sports shoes to the show and the cast will be delivering them to those who need them most, the under-resourced youth.
Booking through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket.com or at any Shoprite or Checkers
outlet.
For corporate, block or school bookings, charities and fundraisers, contact Sharon Ward on 021 680 3962 or [email protected] or Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993, or e-mail [email protected].
There is an age restriction of 16 years.