Theatre for Africa

Founded by Nicholas Ellenbogen in 1989. A company focussing on eco-issues and utilizing mime, mimetic sounds, minimalist costuming and stage settings. The performers are expected to be multi-skilled and are trained in improvisational techniques to develop texts. Well known company members over the years have been Ellis Pearson, Brendan Grealy, Bheki Mkhwane, Liz Szymczak, *. Their most prominent works have been Horn of Sorrow (1989), Elephant of Africa (1992) and Guardians of Eden (1996), Spirit of the Lake (1997). By 1999 there were * companies, distributed throughout Southern Africa, *. Theatre for Africa: Nicholas Ellenbogen’s initiative. They presented Raiders of the Lost Aardvark at the Wits University Theatre in 1991. They presented Cinderella at the Wits University Theatre in 1991. They presented Kwamanzi and Elephant of Africa at the Wits Theatre in 1992. ****

Theatre for Africa 1991/1992 achievements: produced 15 plays; initiated and managed Envirovision: a primary schools' environmental play workshop; toured Germany and Britian. Won the following awards: Merit award from the WWF 'for outstanding achievement and contribution to environmental conservation'; Grahamstown 1990 'Pick of the Fringe' awards for Horn of Sorrow, Eagle and Raiders of the Lost Aardvark; Edinburgh 1990 The Scotsman Fringe First for outstanding new productions; AA Vita Quarterly 1991 for A Nativity.

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