School Performance
2012-2013 Touring Season
Black History Month Special
Win a free show!
AfriCan Theatre Ensemble proudly announces two outstanding plays and an interactive presentation that are bound to excite students—and everyone. Presented from February 1, 2013, each piece uniquely explores important universal and historical themes. Our goal is to make the plays and the interactive presentation more accessible and affordable than ever before, so we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and book a show now. The first 100 schools/libraries to book a show will be entered in a draw for a free show in the 2013-2014 season. There are three prizes to be won, each valued at $695!
1. Recommended for ages 10 years old and up: Lost, a play by Modupe Olaogun (40 minutes, plus optional 15 minutes Q & A)
As children, we face some of the most terrifying moments when we are separated from a guardian or protector. This terror is amplified if a child is lost in a forest where known and unknown inhabitants can be dangerous. Set against the backdrop of the devastating conflicts of the late 20th century, Lost takes a searching look at the universal theme of displacement and revisits the image of the “bogeyman.” In the play, fifteen-year old twins, Kaza and Kurima, accidentally get separated from their family who are returning home to Burundi after living as refugees in a camp in neighbouring Tanzania. Through the swift storytelling and unforgettable exchanges between them and a forest denizen they least expect, the young protagonists navigate the games that fear plays on one’s imagination in desperate moments and make a surprising discovery.
Curriculum Focus & Expectations: Theatre practices from diverse cultures – Africa; the art of drama; literacy through theatre & storytelling.
Themes: History, the aftermath of war, displacements, the environment, endangered species (mountain gorillas), youth education in a period of crisis.
Character Education: Courage, optimism, cooperation, responsibility, resilience.
Price: $695 per performance for a maximum audience of 400 students; special consideration available to schools with larger or smaller populations.
2. Recommended for ages 14 years old and up: The Meeting, a play by Jeff Stetson (60 minutes,plus optional 15 minutes Q & A)
Set in a Harlem hotel room, The Meeting, by acclaimed African-American playwright and screenwriter Jeff Stetson, depicts an imaginary debate between two remarkable icons of the 20th century. Martin Luther King, Jr. passionately defends non-violence as a means of advocating civil rights for a people for whom these have been denied. Malcolm X counters with evocative images of people who are repressed and for whom he believes freedom ought to be pursued “by any means necessary.” Is it a question of right versus wrong in this riveting and timeless debate? Or are we invited to consider an alternative paradigm? AfriCan Theatre Ensemble proudly presents Stetson’s one-act drama about the power and opportunities of a shared humanity in this artistic tour de force that captures some of the lasting legacies of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and continues to speak to relationships forged beyond dogmatic creeds and ideologies.
Curriculum Focus & Expectations: Theatre practices from diverse cultures; literacy through theatre; the art of drama; debating and presentation skills.
Themes: History, Civil rights, race relations, religious and ideological convictions and dialogue.
Character Education: Respect, responsibility, humility, empathy, compassion.
Price: $695 per performance for a maximum audience of 400 students; special consideration available to schools with larger and smaller populations.
3. Recommended for All Age levels, adapted to each age group: Interactive Presentation—African Performance Forms (40 minutes, plus optional 15 minutes Q & A)
An alternative or complement to our theatrical plays, the Interactive Presentation delves into the multidisciplinary aspect of African theatre through its demonstration of the performance forms variously called upon in its making: dialogue, storytelling, dance, music, mime, spectacle, audience participation and so on. The presentation is conducted by our actors and uses excerpts from current season’s plays as illustration.
Price: $350 per session for a maximum of 100 participants.
Technical Requirements for each performance: Stage or performance area: Minimum 20’ x 20’; off stage area or backdrop.
Why everyone should see these shows: AfriCan Theatre Ensemble is made up of seasoned actors and specialists in the history, literature and theatre of the African continent. Its work is undertaken with painstaking research.
Booking:
To book or obtain further information on expectations and teacher’s guide, please contact our Outreach Coordinator, Vendredi Mounsey, by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . All bookings are handled by email.