Space

Rehearsal space is an issue right now. In theory we should have access to space in the drama department at Wits, but it's prac exam time and space is in high demand. Students are practicing their voice exams in the corridor. The whole building is trilling and vibrating.



We have a little funding (thank you, National Arts Council) but once you calculate paying three actors a survival wage, travel to Grahamstown, accommodation, posters... it doesn't go terribly far.



Oh, the luxury of space. A room of one's own, where one can park one's props, set up the set, a decent floor, the ability to hear yourself speak. Maybe even make tea? Well, it comes at a price. Even if its a reasonable price, it adds up quick.



Sooooo, we fall back on the good old barter system. Space for talents. My dear friends at the art school in Braamfontein are letting us use the theatre twice a week, and in exchange we will give them a couple of workshops and some free performances when we have material to show.



And then, and then. I have at last made contact with the Hillbrow theatre people, at the old Lutheran church on the edge of Hillbrow. I haven't been to Hillbrow much lately. Aside from the Joburg Art Gallery, its usually a case of drive through, roll up the windows and lock the doors. Drive up Twist street and run into thin memories of your 17 year old self striding confidently up the hill to the bookshops, the record shops, the coffee shops.



Aah - Hillbrow memories, stories anyone? write them on the comments page, and who knows, we may even use them in the script.



So the Hillbrow theatre is an oasis. With a big stage and wooden floor and quite warm and somewhere to leave our set. We can work there in the mornings, three times a week. In exchange we will give workshops to the schoolkids who come there as part of their outreach programme.



Now all we need is for the entire cast to be available at the same time so that we can actually start work. At the moment, Nhlanhla and I are furiously generating material, and we have a workable structure. More on that in the next post. In the meantime, an extract.... or is it just a ramble? Anycase, it happened right here in Jozi town...


I speak to John on the phone and he says its easy, you just take Smit street from Wits and then you turn into Edith Cavell and the church is on your right about 100 m from the corner of Smit. But when I drive down Smit street its not like I remember it from that summer when I was here with my mom. They've put these big yellow blockade things in the road and you have to drive faster than you can see because of the big silver Kompressor behind me, and I'm looking, looking, but there's no street signs anywhere, and then I see Twist street and I remember Twist street – we always used to walk up the hill, past the Fontana chicken, and I remember that guy who used to open his coat and flash me but I can't remember if Edith Cavell is before or after Twist, so I just keep going and then the road works start there and the guy with the red flag waving but I don't know if he's stopping me or waving me on so I stop but the guy behind me hoots so I go but I stall then I go, then I have to go straight – past the vodacom tower shit now I'm heading to Ellis Park and more red flags waving me wow looka that I suddenly get a glimpse of how the city will be when the new bus system is in place, its going to be awesome, and then I see the BP. I'll have to pull over at the BP.

Thank heavens for petrol stations.