Spark in the Dark - Revision history

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SPARK IN THE DARK (2021-)

SPARK IN THE DARK is a [[Cape Town]]-based theatre company and pop-up performance platform founded by [[Sophie Joans]], dedicated to showcasing the work of emerging young South African theatre- and comedy-makers. It is best known for its flagship festival programme, the Spark Hub (also styled SparkHub), under which readers may also search.

== Founding and aims ==

Spark in the Dark was founded in 2021 by [[Sophie Joans]] in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Joans had worked at the [[Alexander Bar]], a central Cape Town fringe venue that did not survive the lockdown, and started the company as a form of "guerrilla theatre" to keep live performance alive when few small independent spaces remained. It began as a pop-up operation, staging work in whatever venues could be found, with a stated mission to platform emerging young performers, remove the financial barriers that keep them off the national stage, and create spaces for creative connection.

== History ==

In its early years the company built a programme of recurring events and training, including Play Things (a monthly experimental showcase), Raunchy Renditions (a storytelling event Joans co-founded in 2019) and Solo Fest, alongside workshops in clowning, improvisation and storytelling. The company has employed more than 40 performers, partly through [[National Arts Council]] and Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme funding.

The Spark Hub, the company's best-known initiative, was conceived at the [[National Arts Festival]] (NAF) in Makhanda in 2024, when [[Sophie Joans]] and a group of fellow theatre-makers sharing a venue and accommodation began pooling their resources. It operates as a collective that takes over a single festival venue under the Spark in the Dark banner and shares the financial and organisational burden of presenting work. The collective took 14 original works to the [[National Arts Festival]] in 2024. According to Joans, the 2025 season yielded seven [[Standard Bank Ovation Award|Standard Bank Ovation Awards]], raised some R120 000, and launched the careers of ten emerging artists. For 2026 the Spark Hub returned to the [[National Arts Festival]] (25 June - 5 July), housed at the Princess Alice Hall, former home of the [[Cape Town Edge]], with a ThundaFund crowdfunding campaign launched on 25 May 2026.

Those associated with the company include its founder [[Sophie Joans]], together with [[Cailyb Prinsloo]], [[Dara Beth]], [[Kamogelo Mhlantla]] and [[Samantha Carlisle]]. Several have presented their own acclaimed work through or alongside the company: [[Sophie Joans]] is the writer-performer of the solo play ''Île'' (directed by [[Rob van Vuuren]] and a [[Standard Bank Ovation Award|Standard Bank Ovation Award]] winner that toured internationally) and of ''Dog Rose'', staged at the [[Baxter Theatre]], while [[Samantha Carlisle]]'s solo show ''Messy'' was directed by [[Dara Beth]]. These are the makers' own pieces rather than works authored by the company.

== Sources ==

2021. 'Sophie Joans', ''Artfluence Human Rights Festival, University of KwaZulu-Natal''. https://artfluence.ukzn.ac.za/participant/sophie-joans/

2022. 'Review: Sophie Joans' Île is a spark in the dark - magical and lyrical storytelling theatre', ''The Cape Robyn''. https://thecaperobyn.co.za/review-sophie-joans-ile-is-a-spark-in-the-dark-magical-and-lyrical-storytelling-theatre/

2025. 'Join the movement to fund Southern Suburbs performers for the National Arts Festival', ''Southern Suburbs Tatler'', 5 June 2025. https://southernsuburbstatler.co.za/news/2025-06-05-join-the-movement-to-fund-southern-suburbs-performers-for-the-national-arts-festival/

2025. 'Stage: Assist Spark in the Dark with production costs for Spark Hub NAF 2025', ''The Cape Robyn''. https://thecaperobyn.co.za/stage-assist-spark-in-the-dark-with-production-costs-for-spark-hub-naf-2025/

2025. 'Sophie Joans', ''Mail & Guardian'' (200 Young South Africans), 2025. https://mg.co.za/200youngsouthafricans/2025/sophie-joans/

2026. 'SparkHub to Bring Emerging South African Theatre Makers to National Arts Festival', ''BroadwayWorld South Africa'', 22 May 2026. https://www.broadwayworld.com/south-africa/article/SparkHub-to-Bring-Emerging-South-African-Theatre-Makers-to-National-Arts-Festival-20260522

2026. 'Young, talented, underfunded: The bright sparks at the theatre's fringe', ''Daily Maverick'', 22 June 2026. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-06-22-young-talented-underfunded-the-bright-sparks-at-the-theatres-fringe/

'Messy', ''National Arts Festival''. https://tickets.nationalartsfestival.co.za/en/events/943/messy

'Our Story' and 'Meet The Team', ''Spark in the Dark''. https://sparkinthedark.co.za/our-story/ ; https://sparkinthedark.co.za/meet-the-team/

''Sophie Joans''. https://sophiejoans.com/

Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

== Return to ==

Return to [[South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc.]]

Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]

Return to [[Main Page]]

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 == History ==
-In its early years the company built a programme of recurring events and training, including Play Things (a monthly experimental showcase), Raunchy Renditions (a storytelling event Joans co-founded in 2019) and Solo Fest, alongside workshops in clowning, improvisation and storytelling. The company has employed more than 40 performers, partly through [[National Arts Council]] and [[Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme]] funding.
+In its early years the company built a programme of recurring events and training, including [[Play Things]] (a monthly experimental showcase), [[Raunchy Renditions]] (a storytelling event Joans co-founded in 2019) and [[Solo Fest]], alongside workshops in clowning, improvisation and storytelling. The company has employed more than 40 performers, partly through [[National Arts Council]] and [[Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme]] funding.
-The Spark Hub, the company's best-known initiative, was conceived at the [[National Arts Festival]] (NAF) in Makhanda in 2024, when [[Sophie Joans]] and a group of fellow theatre-makers sharing a venue and accommodation began pooling their resources. It operates as a collective that takes over a single festival venue under the Spark in the Dark banner and shares the financial and organisational burden of presenting work. The collective took 14 original works to the [[National Arts Festival]] in 2024. According to Joans, the 2025 season yielded seven [[Standard Bank Ovation Award|Standard Bank Ovation Awards]], raised some R120 000, and launched the careers of ten emerging artists. For 2026 the Spark Hub returned to the [[National Arts Festival]] (25 June - 5 July), housed at the Princess Alice Hall, former home of the [[Cape Town Edge]], with a ThundaFund crowdfunding campaign launched on 25 May 2026.
+The [[Spark Hub]], the company's best-known initiative, was conceived at the [[National Arts Festival]] (NAF) in Makhanda in 2024, when [[Sophie Joans]] and a group of fellow theatre-makers sharing a venue and accommodation began pooling their resources. It operates as a collective that takes over a single festival venue under the [[Spark in the Dark]] banner and shares the financial and organisational burden of presenting work. The collective took 14 original works to the [[National Arts Festival]] in 2024. According to Joans, the 2025 season yielded seven [[Standard Bank Ovation Award|Standard Bank Ovation Awards]], raised some R120 000, and launched the careers of ten emerging artists. For 2026 the [[Spark Hub]] returned to the [[National Arts Festival]] (25 June - 5 July), housed at the Princess Alice Hall, former home of the [[Cape Town Edge]], with a [[ThundaFund]] crowdfunding campaign launched on 25 May 2026.
 Those associated with the company include its founder [[Sophie Joans]], together with [[Cailyb Prinsloo]], [[Dara Beth]], [[Kamogelo Mhlantla]] and [[Samantha Carlisle]]. Several have presented their own acclaimed work through or alongside the company: [[Sophie Joans]] is the writer-performer of the solo play ''Île'' (directed by [[Rob van Vuuren]] and a [[Standard Bank Ovation Award|Standard Bank Ovation Award]] winner that toured internationally) and of ''Dog Rose'', staged at the [[Baxter Theatre]], while [[Samantha Carlisle]]'s solo show ''Messy'' was directed by [[Dara Beth]]. These are the makers' own pieces rather than works authored by the company.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 SPARK IN THE DARK (2021-)
-SPARK IN THE DARK is a [[Cape Town]]-based theatre company and pop-up performance platform founded by [[Sophie Joans]], dedicated to showcasing the work of emerging young South African theatre- and comedy-makers. It is best known for its flagship festival programme, the Spark Hub (also styled SparkHub), under which readers may also search.
+SPARK IN THE DARK is a [[Cape Town]]-based theatre company and pop-up performance platform founded by [[Sophie Joans]], dedicated to showcasing the work of emerging young South African theatre- and comedy-makers. It is best known for its flagship festival programme, the [[Spark Hub]] (also styled SparkHub), under which readers may also search.
 == Founding and aims ==
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 == History ==
-In its early years the company built a programme of recurring events and training, including Play Things (a monthly experimental showcase), Raunchy Renditions (a storytelling event Joans co-founded in 2019) and Solo Fest, alongside workshops in clowning, improvisation and storytelling. The company has employed more than 40 performers, partly through [[National Arts Council]] and Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme funding.
+In its early years the company built a programme of recurring events and training, including Play Things (a monthly experimental showcase), Raunchy Renditions (a storytelling event Joans co-founded in 2019) and Solo Fest, alongside workshops in clowning, improvisation and storytelling. The company has employed more than 40 performers, partly through [[National Arts Council]] and [[Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme]] funding.
 The Spark Hub, the company's best-known initiative, was conceived at the [[National Arts Festival]] (NAF) in Makhanda in 2024, when [[Sophie Joans]] and a group of fellow theatre-makers sharing a venue and accommodation began pooling their resources. It operates as a collective that takes over a single festival venue under the Spark in the Dark banner and shares the financial and organisational burden of presenting work. The collective took 14 original works to the [[National Arts Festival]] in 2024. According to Joans, the 2025 season yielded seven [[Standard Bank Ovation Award|Standard Bank Ovation Awards]], raised some R120 000, and launched the careers of ten emerging artists. For 2026 the Spark Hub returned to the [[National Arts Festival]] (25 June - 5 July), housed at the Princess Alice Hall, former home of the [[Cape Town Edge]], with a ThundaFund crowdfunding campaign launched on 25 May 2026.