Siyasanga South African Theatre Company

Siyasanga is an African Hlubi word meaning: "we embrace you or we thank you". Siyasanga is a repertory theatre company for young South African theatre workers and particularly those from historically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Also billed as Siyasanga Theatre Company and Siyasanga Cape Town Theatre Company.

History

It was founded by playwright Fatima Dike and producer/director Roy Sargeant in 2006. The ultimate goal is to establish a major, theatrical repertory company, which would have a stock of plays and performances that it can perform at regular intervals. Such a company would provide work for South African theatre workers on two-to three- year contracts and builds up a loyal audience because of its constant presence in the market place. Initially Siyisanga was based in Langa, but in 2007, it moved to Artscape. Early productions were staged jointly with Artscape.

Since 2005, it has also run the annual Artscape Spring Drama Season, where new work by new and established writers are shown.

In 2011, Fatima Dike and Roy Sargeant were joined by fellow theatricals Alfred Rietmann and Anthea Thompson.

Productions

The company staged adaptations of school setworks that were performed at Artscape and toured to schools. Performing setworks was part of the original vision – to bring texts by Shakespeare, Samuel Beckett and other great playwrights to life for pupils.

Other productions include: