By Alice Mminele
09/06/2016
Hammanskraal is an everyday evolving area and slowly but surely, dreams are being brewed here.
Meet Busisiwe Radebe, Director of “Step up! Productions”. A woman with a vision for this growing township and a woman who believes in the young generation. Not only does Busisiwe have a dream, she has made it come alive. Busisiwe and her production team aim to change the lives of the young children from Hammanskraal through the arts.
Step up! Productions presents an English setwork in Grade 10 that is studied in the majority of schools in Hammanskraal, “Only the pot knows how hot the fire is,” written by V.C.D Mtubani. Come the month of July, Step up will be at work.
The show directed by Busisiwe Radebe is a show about a young women who is assaulted and raped by the son of a prominent businessman who believes that money can buy anything and anyone. Although the young woman is devastated by her traumatic experience and bitter towards her attacker, she is reluctant to report the matter to the police. When she finally decides to report the attack to the police, it is however at home that she must fight her biggest battle. After dealing with rape and its various effects – psychological, moral, legal, and personal, the drama reaches its climax in the High Court of Botswana in Lobatse where, having presided over a sensational and emotional trial, judgement has to be passed….
This show is set to be staged in the local Hammanskraal Community, and it seeks to educate, inspire and grow the minds of the youth. Busisiwe and her production team seek to give the audience an interactive experience and have hopes to reach the majority of Tshwane North and greater Gauteng Grade 10 learners studying “Only the pot knows how hot the fire is”.
Busisiwe Radebe is no amateur in the field of theatre, she holds a Diploma from Durban University of Technology where she studied from 2011 to 2013. She is currently studying for her Honours degree in Applied Drama and Theatre, Education, Communities, and Social Context at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Her cast is comprised of 14 actors who are B-tech graduates from Tshwane University of Technology, Graduates from Durban University of Technology and artists from Victory Theatre Company.
Busisiwe believes that as compared to ordinary classroom lessons, theatre helps one relate to what they see on stage, as they understand it better and understand it better, unlike when reading a book or watching it on television.
“Many production companies aim to tour schools with communities that have art centres, theatres, and halls and the distance to deeper regions in Hammanskraal and surrounding areas may prove too far for a company to pursue.
“Due to lack of such facilities a privilege or rather an opportunity, one’s will to better children’s education is lost.
“May the month of July be the start of only great things for these learners,” said Busisiwe.
For bookings, call: 0798619166