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. ****

In 1991-2 they initiated and managed Envirovision, a primary schools' environmental play workshop.

Recognition

Theatre for Africa and Nicholas Ellenbogen have received numerous forms of recognition over the years, including Command Performances for royalty and international leaders. (Also see the entry on Nicholas Ellenbogen.).

The formal awards include:

1990 'Pick of the Fringe' awards at Grahamstown for Horn of Sorrow, Eagle and Raiders of the Lost Aardvark

1990 The Scotsman Fringe First award for outstanding new productions; Horn of Sorrow, Eagle and Raiders of the Lost Aardvark

AA Vita Quarterly 1991 for A Nativity.

1995: Merit award from the WWF 'for outstanding achievement and contribution to environmental conservation'; Grahamstown

Sources

Percy Tucker, 1997

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