Artscape Presents a Double Bill of BUT, THE LAND and UTHANDO as Part of the New Voices Programme

The Artscape Theatre is set to present the much anticipated second season of New Voices with a first double bill of BUT, THE LAND and UTHANDO.

After the success and publication of their first play, UHM..., which was further developed and performed at Artscape, The Papercut Collective is creating a new play called BUT, THE LAND. While UHM... examined the colonising effects of the English language, BUT, THE LAND will tackle the issue of land, currently a hot topic in South Africa's political landscape. The Papercut Collective is staying true to their creative roots and workshopping the play around the personal experiences of their cast members and creative team. Written by Callum Tilbury, Jason Jacobs and Koleka Putuma, with set design by Kathleen Stephens, BUT, THE LAND is directed by Jason Jacobs and features a cast including Zikhona Jacobs, Jolyn Phillips, Margeatha Gericke and Kay Smith under the mentorship of Mandla Mbothwe. The final result will be a performative montage, a cross section of a number of South African voices in the way they interact with the idea of land.

UTHANDO is an original script written by Thando Baliso, further created by the performing company and directed by Bulelani Mabutyana. It features cast members Aphiwe Menziwa, Awethu Hleli, Sizwe Lubengu and Nathabeleng Jafta. UTHANDO is a taxi driver with a difference: he is also a musician with a big dream of performing locally and abroad. He always ferries commuters with a smile and occasionally sings, to the passengers' delight and the ladies are always left screaming for more. He dreams of starting a family one day with his beautiful woman, who will share the world with him. He meets Thandokazi and it's love at first sight. She is everything he wants: beautiful, sexy and a hard worker. She enjoys the finer things in life and she would like a man that will take care of her needs and who is able to afford her lifestyle. Thando wants to work hard with the aim of pleasing and meeting the needs of his loved one. But, is she really the one?

The Artscape New Voices programme aims to resuscitate the essence and depth of our nation through excellence in theatrical performances of our stories that are a reflection of our society. These voices represent South Africa's common narratives, and the memories of individuals that have been deprived of resources and dignity and which have, in the past, been underappreciated. Says Mandla Mbothwe, Creative Manager for Artscape Theatre:

New Voices is a developmental programme that seeks to give voice to new theatre-makers, directors, choreographers, scriptwriters and creative expression and will also seek to develop and give platforms to narratives, aesthetics and language that have been, and still are, marginalised in our creative industries. It is through this that the programme aims to restore the dignity and confidence of artists of multiple creative expression, and to excavate the buried stories in reclaiming their identity in the mainstream.

The double bill of BUT, THE LAND and UTHANDO will preview on 5 October and open on 6 October, running until 15 October at 19:30 nightly excepting Sundays (on which there will be a 15:00 matinee) and Mondays. Tickets ranging in price from R50 - R80 can be booked in person at the Artscape Box Office, by phone through Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7839 and at Computicket outlets nationwide.

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