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Story Time with DUT’s Annual Children’s Theatre Festival

Story Time with DUT’s Annual Children’s Theatre Festival

This year, the 2014 DUT Children’s Theatre Festival profiles political activist, author, and renowned story-teller Gcina Mhlophe.

Showcasing first in the festival was Lungile, a story about a beautiful maiden (named Lungile) who is on a journey to find love.

While the story was originally written and directed by Mhlophe, its modern retake is directed by Lecturer and Programme Co-ordinator in the DUT Drama and Production Studies Department, Nellie Ngcongo.

Lungile is adored by everyone in her village, has a cheerful smile and loves birds. Numerous suitors ask for her hand in marriage but she simply refuses their advances, saying she will wait for a sign from a bird to announce who she should marry.

Her parents and friends are aggravated by this as it seems foolish and unrealistic to them. The situation gets worse when all the girls in the village get married and she is the only unmarried one.

Lungile’s special bird finally arrives and everyone is introduced to her husband. Her parents and the villagers are swept away by her future husbands’ demeanour, and like any other fairytale or love story, the couple soon gets married and lives happily ever after.

Thandeka Shangase plays the role of Lungile and brings life to the character with her lively and spontaneous personality.

Colourful feathers, wings and tootoos are used as props in the production, making the play a dreamy, childlike affair.

Ngcongo said it took her and the students three weeks to execute the production. “I must give credit to the students as they helped with reviving the script and choreography. This was a joint effort and I’m ecstatic about the final product, which is the actual play”, she said.

“My angle on the story was for it to be interactive. Actors spoke to the audience and asked them to join in on stage to make everybody comfortable”, she said.
She further said that sweets are given to the crowd (children) to encourage them to behave.

The cast members are: Thandeka Shangase as Lungile, Masintle Mfeka as Lungile’s mother and villager, Philile Cele as narrator, Luyolo Mvambi as Lungile’s friend and villager, Sihle Magandu as young suitor and bird, Sphephelo Dlamini as young suitor and bird, Londiwe Shozi as Lungile’s friend, Nomfundo Nsibande as Lungile’s friend and villager, Nonhlanhla Gwala as Lungile’s friend and villager, Nokukhanya Mkhize as Lungile’s friend and villager, Cebo Fakazi as Senzo and bird, Brain Lungelo Duma as young suitor and bird, Siboniso Xaba as Lungile’s father and bird, Pamela Nkutha as villager, Zenzele Mazibuko as villager and Thembinkosi Mthembu as preacher and bird.

The Festival started on Monday (29 October 2014) this week and ends on Friday (3 October 2014) this week.

– Talent Buthelezi

Pictured: Some of the cast members of Lungile during one of the production’s scenes.

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