SURGE. Directed by Roshina Ratnam. With the Magnet Theatre Youth Company – Azola Mkhabile, Buhle Stefane, Kuhle Myathaza, Lindokuhle Melaphi, Mihlali Bele, Molupi Lepeli, Nosiphiwo Ndabeni, Siphenathi Siqwayi, Sipho Kalako, Thabo Mkenene and Wendy Mrali. Baxter Flipside.
KAREN RUTTER reviews
I wish that every school in the Western Cape would organise to see this show. It’s perfectly pitched for a young audience, is performed by a young cast, and deals with issues young people should find very pertinent.
And it is such a beautiful, clever, dynamic production. Held with great care and expression by the hands (literally) of the Magnet Theatre Youth Company, Surge uses two central characters (also young) to explore different relationships to the natural world – and what can happen when certain choices are made.
It’s about climate change, in both a personal and political sense. But it’s also about so much more – tenderness, respect, love, joy. At a time when many are suffering from climate fatigue – the sense of exhaustion at having to make endless moral choices when nothing seems to make a difference – Surge offers a fresh, and ultimately quite straightforward take. There are no talking heads, no apocalyptic scientists – just the simplicity of a boy, a girl, the sea, the sky, birds and fish. Until they aren’t there any more.
Such imagination
Roshina Ratnam directs the talented ensemble with a deft touch, bringing out each individual’s style while still maintaining the disciplined teamwork needed to carry off this blend of physical theatre, puppetry and magic realism. And such imagination has gone into the creation of each character and scene, from Andile and River the puppet leads, to the depictions of undulating waves, soaring birds and even sprawling cities.
Having seen much of this cast in Mandla Mbothwe’s Ikrele leChiza… the sermon, it is such a pleasure once again to experience their confident capacity for high-level performance.
This is a remarkable work – short enough to keep young attention spans rapt (45 minutes), magical enough to keep digital-dominated minds delighted, and clever enough to issue a challenge, in the most gentle yet effective way.
As I say – I really wish every schoolkid in every school here could see this production at the Baxter. It could make a difference, down the line …
What: Surge
Where and when: Baxter Flipside from 21 to 29 July 2023 at 11am daily, with an evening performance on 29 July at 7pm.
Tickets: Webtickets
WS
