Lightness in our 'playing'

A journalist that came to see Paraphernalia at the National Arts Festival last week, commented on how we managed to create a lightness and quirkiness in our show although it was dealing with a serious issue.

Paraphernalia was born out of that exact intention: how we could use our various theatre talents and skills to tell a story that draws people in, entertains them but also brings an important message about social behaviour. We wanted Paraphernalia to be slightly off the

wall and absurd; we wanted people to chuckle

and giggle; and we wanted audiences to believe that desk lamps have feelings too...

Our 5 shows at NAF went off very well (other than a wobbly first show), and we received some great responses all round to the hard work we put in to bringing this story to life. Combining the skills and commitment of 3 great actors: Cassandra Hendricks, Daniel Robinson and Andrea van Meygaarden; the collaboration of Jesse Kramer, Jacqueline van Meygaarden and Liezel Reddeck on creating the masks and the commitment of a team who've worked with no reward for over a month, we pulled off something to be proud of!

Thanks all for a rewarding experience. You all rock!

Jacqueline

NAF AMAZ!NG

We've just come back from the National Arts Festival in Grahamtown, where we did 5 awesome performances of Paraphernalia. What an AMAZ!ING week... a fantastic venue (Princess Alice Hall), great people, brilliant shows, great atmosphere, lovely warm weather...We couldn't expect more.

Being a french intern working with Cosmos Productions, it was my first time at the National Arts Festival and first time in South Africa, and although I don't come from a theatre background, I really felt the full experience and just loved it.

I have been working on the marketing and publicity for our show Paraphernalia, and helped in running the video projections in the show, and although it was stressful at times, it was all good stress....

Thank you to the Cape Town Edge, all our sponsors, and all the people who believe in us that give us the opportunity to realise this kind of fabulous project.

Célia Fressynet

Daniel

Not only am I a producer and performer for Theatre for Change, but I work for Project 90 by 2030, our main partner organisation. Since last year I took on the role as the Project 90 Cape Town Clubs Coordinator. I've been involved in creating and teaming up with clubs in 10 schools to create a network of core clubs in Cape Town. Our aim is help each school reduce their carbon footprint by 10% each year. We also have club hubs which are not part of the core club network but use the framework to create clubs in schools and organisations nationwide.

The best thing about working for Project 90 and being a theatre creator, is that i've been able to merge my interests and passions together to create work I truly enjoy. The idea for Theatre for Change was born last year when a friend and colleague, Robert Zipplies, embarked on a 'Crazy Ass' journey across the country from Cape Town to Durban on an electric bike to help raise awareness about Climate Change, aptly called the Cycle Challenge 2009. Andrea and I joined Rob on his epic journey and saw the value in taking a climate change themed theatre show on tour around schools in the Eastern and Western Cape. Six months later, a outstanding team comprising of Cosmos Productions, Project 90 by 2030 and a highly skilled intern from France, are taking Paraphernalia and Joyce's Choices on a 20 day tour. Shap!

Jacqueline

Theatre maker; filmmaker; puppeteer; environmental activist, hiker and lover of fruit! I created Cosmos Productions to make a space for my (and other collaborators) dream theatre projects come alive. Also the co-producer and director of Parapahernalia and Joyce's Choices, our two shows heading off on tour in June 2010.