CAPE TOWN-The young boys and girls at Zwaanswyk Academy had fun serenading and transporting their guests back to a colourful time in District Six.
This year’s play production dubbed Haven on the corner took place at the school hall in Retreat and is the brainchild of school play director, Jade Rodgers.
The debut took place on Thursday evening 25 September.
Haven is set on a bustling street in the heart of District Six and tells the story of a vibrant group of individuals from all walks of life.
Bound together by shared meals, lively stories, and a relentless hustle, these are the everyday heroes of the community — kind, fun, and full of heart, said school spokesperson Wesley Moolman.
“This original play offers a heartfelt glimpse into a single day in their lives, brought to life through rich characters and the spirited musical inspiration of Ghoema,” he said.
School principal Anthony Adams said he was excited to showcase their school’s local talents as well as remind the communities of the vibrant culture of the Cape.
Music director Wendylin Petersen said it was exciting and a bit challenging working on the play and choosing the songs for their musical.
Petersen grew up in Lansdowne and had an early love affair with music.
She started playing guitar from the age of six and has been playing for 52 years now.
“This play has been incredibly crazy, there was a lot of hard work, we had to do a lot of research on the music, but the idea for Ghoema was inspired by a Cape Malay medley that our Grade 4 learners do and I thought it would be a great idea to explore. From there we started planning and searched for music last year. We wanted to be true to the history of Ghoema and know where it started from the days of slavery and execute it in a tasteful way,” she said.
The play was brewing in the planning stages for almost two years before she and Fredericks had a completed draft. The school also had a live band guiding the learners on stage along with backing tracks of classic Cape Town tunes.
Learners and actors Blaine Elliot and Olivia Mentoor were excited to tackle their roles in Haven on the corner and brought their characters to life on stage.
Mentoor says she enjoys playing netball and spending family time.
“My passion for acting started at eight years. I was also inspired to act by my maths teacher, Mr Moolman.”
She describes her character Shamiela as “a confident, strong coloured woman who stands her ground”.
Elliot was raised in Retreat and enjoys soccer.
“My character Byron is a strong and funny and good-hearted person. One of the greatest challenges was learning the lines.”
