If it is said that the mark of a great piece of theatre is the conversation it sparks that lasts long after the curtain has fallen, then The Amazing Other Show has been keeping conversations going year after year. Commissioned by Rhodes University, the annual theatre work is aimed at first year students starting their academic careers, some away from home for the first time, who will need to confront issues of racism, classism, sexism, rape culture, depression, addiction, and more in their university years to come.
Hannah Lax, Rhodes graduate and director of this year’s show, explains that it’s a lengthy and meticulous process, devised by her and a 13 member cast made up of community performers, working professionals, and drama students.
“We work together as a cast, we have discussions and reflective writing on various topics and we sift through all the stories and memories that emerge and then see what is applicable for the stage. In order to provoke questions, you have to present scenarios that have a slight dilemma so that the audience can then debate the decisions that were made or the outcomes of each scenario,” she said.
Some scenes are especially contentious. ‘It’s not that I hate black guys, it’s just that I feel like if they wanted to rape me, I couldn’t do anything about it’. This line from last year’s show was met with no small number of heated remarks and uncomfortable laughs from the audience. Another touchy scene involves two students from different backgrounds comparing residence rooms and uses humour to highlight socio-economic divides amongst students.
This year Lax is staging a similarly controversial show that provokes its audience enough to grab their attention, while encouraging introspection amongst audience members. To do this, Lax and her cast has looked to find a medium that tip toes between gratuitous offensiveness and witty humour.
“A show like this can leave the audience incredibly raw which is not a very constructive position for them to be in once they leave the theatre so what I’m trying to do is find a medium that is poking, shouting, laughing, crying, singing, dancing, and entertaining, but at the same time allows the audience to unpack themselves through a show that’s not so affronting,” Lax said before adding, “Because it’s hard to look at who you are if you’re being kicked in the nuts.”
The Q&A section at the end of each performance sees the performers answering questions both in and out of their stage characters. This section allows for students to hear the views, sensitivities, and opinions of their fellow students through the discussions that are sparked from the show’s content, a way to debrief from the content of the performance.
“We all express discomfort in different ways. With theatre, there’s no screen separating you from what’s happening. If there’s a particularly intense scene like a rape scene, you’re so close to it you can feel the pulse of it. By being able to speak directly with the performers, the audience can make sense of what they’ve just seen and hopefully seek out answers to the questions they may have,” Lax said before adding, “As a country, we really need to combat the lack of theatre literacy. That said, we’re pretty comfortable as a generation with entertainment so I hope that the show can kind of bridge the two and provoke thought around the many issues we still face as a country and a generation.”
All images courtesy of Mia van der Merwe.
Hi there! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the outstanding work!
I love it when people come together and share opinions, great blog, keep it up.
Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Good article and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is actually the best place to ask but do you folks have any thoughts on where to get some professional writers? Thanks 🙂
you will have an awesome blog right here! would you prefer to make some invite posts on my weblog?
It?¦s actually a great and useful piece of information. I am happy that you just shared this useful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched everywhere and just could not come across. What an ideal web site.
I really appreciate this post. I¦ve been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thanks again
Wonderful web site. Plenty of useful information here. I’m sending it to some pals ans also sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks in your sweat!
Hi, Neat post. There is a problem along with your web site in web explorer, could test this… IE still is the marketplace chief and a good component of other people will leave out your great writing because of this problem.
Excellent site. Lots of useful info here. I?¦m sending it to several buddies ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks for your effort!
Some genuinely prize content on this internet site, saved to bookmarks.
I have been examinating out a few of your articles and i can claim clever stuff. I will surely bookmark your blog.
you’re really a excellent webmaster. The website loading speed is incredible. It seems that you are doing any unique trick. In addition, The contents are masterwork. you have performed a fantastic job on this topic!
I keep listening to the news update talk about getting boundless online grant applications so I have been looking around for the finest site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i acquire some?
Hey there! I’ve been following your blog for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Huffman Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the great work!
I was suggested this blog by means of my cousin. I am now not sure whether this put up is written by him as no one else realize such particular approximately my trouble. You are amazing! Thanks!
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I have truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
I like this post, enjoyed this one regards for posting. “I would sooner fail than not be among the greatest.” by John Keats.
I got what you intend, appreciate it for posting.Woh I am thankful to find this website through google. “I was walking down the street wearing glasses when the prescription ran out.” by Steven Wright.
Im not positive where you’re getting your information, however great topic. I must spend a while studying much more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful info I was on the lookout for this info for my mission.
Really Appreciate this article, is there any way I can get an alert email whenever there is a new update?
Wohh exactly what I was searching for, thankyou for posting.
I simply needed to say thanks once again. I’m not certain the things that I would have worked on in the absence of the entire tactics revealed by you over my field. It had become a real hard matter in my view, but understanding a new expert tactic you handled it took me to weep with joy. Extremely happier for your advice and as well , sincerely hope you know what an amazing job you happen to be accomplishing training people today through the use of your blog post. I am sure you haven’t encountered all of us.
Hey! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with Search Engine Optimization? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please share. Kudos!
Fantastic website. Lots of useful info here. I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks for your sweat!
I couldn’t resist commenting
I like the efforts you have put in this, thank you for all the great articles.
You got a very fantastic website, Glad I found it through yahoo.
Please let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your weblog. You have some really good articles and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please blast me an e-mail if interested. Cheers!
Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
I really appreciate this post. I?¦ve been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thx again
This really answered my problem, thank you!
I am glad that I detected this site, just the right information that I was searching for! .
hey there and thanks on your info – I’ve certainly picked up something new from proper here. I did then again expertise some technical issues the usage of this website, as I experienced to reload the web site a lot of occasions previous to I could get it to load correctly. I have been wondering if your hosting is OK? Now not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently have an effect on your placement in google and can injury your quality ranking if ads and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Anyway I am including this RSS to my email and could look out for a lot extra of your respective fascinating content. Ensure that you update this once more very soon..
I conceive you have mentioned some very interesting points, thankyou for the post.
Have you ever thought about publishing an e-book or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog centered on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my audience would enjoy your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.
I gotta favorite this website it seems very useful extremely helpful
F*ckin¦ remarkable issues here. I¦m very satisfied to see your article. Thank you a lot and i am having a look ahead to contact you. Will you please drop me a mail?
Wohh precisely what I was looking for, thanks for putting up.
What i do not understood is in fact how you are not really a lot more smartly-preferred than you may be right now. You’re very intelligent. You already know thus significantly in the case of this subject, made me for my part consider it from a lot of various angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be fascinated unless it is one thing to do with Woman gaga! Your personal stuffs great. At all times take care of it up!
You have observed very interesting details! ps nice website.
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
I was just searching for this info for some time. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your web site. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this type of informative web sites in top of the list. Generally the top sites are full of garbage.
Wonderful work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my website . Thanks =)
I’m still learning from you, but I’m trying to reach my goals. I definitely enjoy reading all that is written on your website.Keep the stories coming. I liked it!
I was studying some of your blog posts on this site and I believe this web site is very informative! Keep on putting up.
Some really great info , Glad I discovered this.
Hello very cool blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds also…I’m happy to seek out a lot of useful info here within the submit, we’d like work out more strategies on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
There are some fascinating points in time in this article however I don’t know if I see all of them middle to heart. There may be some validity however I’ll take maintain opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we want extra! Added to FeedBurner as effectively
Мостбет (MostBet) – официальный сайт букмекерской конторы в Казахстане. Вход и регистрация у букмекера. Ставки на Мостбет – футбол, хоккей, теннис.
Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your website is very cool. I am impressed by the details that you’ve on this site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched all over the place and simply could not come across. What an ideal site.
I’ve read some just right stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much attempt you put to make one of these wonderful informative website.
Good day! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having difficulty finding one? Thanks a lot!
What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively useful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to contribute & assist other users like its aided me. Good job.
I’m curious to find out what blog platform you happen to be utilizing? I’m experiencing some minor security issues with my latest site and I’d like to find something more risk-free. Do you have any suggestions?
excellent points altogether, you simply gained a new reader. What would you suggest in regards to your post that you made a few days ago? Any positive?
Its superb as your other blog posts : D, thanks for putting up.
A person essentially help to make seriously posts I would state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to create this particular publish incredible. Fantastic job!
I love the efforts you have put in this, appreciate it for all the great content.
Rattling instructive and good body structure of content material, now that’s user genial (:.
Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
Fantastic website. Plenty of helpful information here. I¦m sending it to several buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks on your sweat!
You actually make it appear really easy with your presentation however I to find this topic to be really one thing which I believe I would never understand. It kind of feels too complicated and very huge for me. I’m looking forward on your next publish, I will try to get the cling of it!
Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it, you may be a great author.I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and definitely will come back later in life. I want to encourage that you continue your great writing, have a nice afternoon!
I am glad to be one of several visitors on this outstanding site (:, thankyou for posting.
whoah this blog is magnificent i love reading your posts. Keep up the great work! You know, many people are looking around for this info, you could help them greatly.
I absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post’s to be what precisely I’m looking for. can you offer guest writers to write content for you? I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on a few of the subjects you write related to here. Again, awesome website!
I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site. Reading this information So i’m happy to convey that I have a very good uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I most certainly will make sure to do not forget this web site and give it a glance on a constant basis.
You are my breathing in, I have few blogs and sometimes run out from to post .
There is visibly a bundle to realize about this. I feel you made certain good points in features also.
[url=https://prozac2023.online/]fluoxetine pill[/url]
[url=https://advair.gives/]advair price in mexico[/url]