The Sunday News
Raisedon baya
HE called the children to the edge of the cliff and the children went to him running, excited, unsuspecting. When they reached the edge of the cliff he pushed them over the edge and, suddenly, they were flying.
I always think about this story whenever I have to talk about theatre for children and young people. I believe teachers who work with children, especially creative children, should throw caution to the wind and allow children to take over and own the creative process. Yes. I believe it can be done. Teachers should close their eyes and throw the young creatives to the deep end of the pool or throw them over a cliff and see what happens. Believe you me the children will not drown or fall hard on the ground but will surprise all of us with their creativity. Let us all experiment and see what happens.
Platforms like Iyasa’s Isiphiwo Sami Talent Search should be the platforms for the suggested experimentation but unfortunately when platforms like Isiphiwo Sami Talent Search come along most teachers think about winning — some even want to win at all costs, forgetting that these platforms are more for the discovery of children’s hidden talents than anything else. Isiphiwo Sami Talent Search is a platform for many young people to discover their various creative talents. In its current form, Isiphiwo Sami is largely a theatre competition. And we can only underestimate the power of theatre at our own risk.
Theatre has the power, not only to expand one’s life’s experiences but to permanently alter the course of one’s life.
Young people involved in theatre get to travel in time, space, cross cultural and social terrain, taking their usual captive audiences with them. Remember it is by no accident that Isiphiwo Sami Talent Search has, for now, settled for theatre to push various messages among young people through their yearly themes. Theatre is about communication and the education of young generations. It is a proven effective communication tool.
So here I am again, appealing to teachers to let the children be. Let them tell us their stories. Let audiences see the world through children and young people’s eyes. Let the audiences hear the little, fragile, frightened or excited voices of children and young people as they tell their stories. For Isiphiwo Sami is their time, their space. Theatre for children and young people should basically be theatre by children and young people done for children and young people — not about adults imposing their views and their stories on children and young people. Let 2016 be the year of doing things the right way.
I also believe theatre should always be challenging and fun. Let children and young people come to theatre to stretch their brains and in the process their imagination. Let them strive to touch and change others with their stories. Let their own stories stimulate and touch others. Working with young creatives should also be challenging and fun for the teachers too. I love fun. I totally believe in children and young people having fun. Let them have as much fun as they want, as much as they can. Let them swim in the watery pool between art, entertainment, participation and competition. Let them laugh, clap, scream, cheer each other, even if their performances are nowhere near perfect.
Who cares? It is their time. Time for fun. What matters more should not be the trophies or the prize money that is at stake but participation, braving the stage and playing one’s part — that is what it is all about; participation.
The theme for this year’s edition of the talent show is not by coincidence too. It was well thought out. Age of Consent to Sex and Marriage. You will all agree with me that this theme is controversial, topical, relevant and challenging. It will actually be interesting to see what the young people (not adults) think about the law of consent — especially coming after so much controversy and debate in this country.
In conclusion, let me say best wishes to every participating actor and actress, teachers, and schools. May this year’s edition of the talent show be fulfilled.
