Ukwanda Puppet and Design Company (formerly Masiphumelele Youth Development Theatre Group), established by previous members of Handspring Puppet Company, produced a play with the assistance and support of the Handspring Trust for Puppetry Arts and the CHR at UWC. Their production, entitled, Qhawe, a Xhosa Fairytale, toured to the Montagu Festival, Western Cape, in mid-August 2014 and was also performed at the Cape Town Fringe. Qhawe is a puppet show designed by Luyanda Nogodlwana who, besides his world renowned distinction as a puppet maker, is an emerging theatre-maker. The preview showings have met with huge success and the production received the Montagu Festival double gold award in 2014. The goal of Ukwanda is to take the production to theatre and puppet festivals around the world.
Gallery
Advert for Qhawe, a puppet play by CHR artist-in-residence, Mongi Mthombeni, and performed by Ukwanda Puppet and Design Company (formerly Masiphumelele Youth Development Theatre Group). Photograph: Jonathan Jones
Performance of Qhawe, a puppet play by CHR artist-in-residence, Mongi Mthombeni, and performed by Ukwanda Puppet and Design Company (formerly Masiphumelele Youth Development Theatre Group), Farewell Festival for retiring rector of UWC, Brian O’Connell, UWC, 25 October 2014. Photograph: Aidan Erasmus
Performance of Qhawe, a puppet play by CHR artist-in-residence, Mongi Mthombeni, and performed by Ukwanda Puppet and Design Company (formerly Masiphumelele Youth Development Theatre Group), Farewell Festival for retiring rector of UWC, Brian O’Connell, UWC, 25 October 2014. Photograph: Aidan Erasmus
Performance of Qhawe, a puppet play by CHR artist-in-residence, Mongi Mthombeni, and performed by Ukwanda Puppet and Design Company (formerly Masiphumelele Youth Development Theatre Group), Farewell Festival for retiring rector of UWC, Brian O’Connell, UWC, 25 October 2014. Photograph: Aidan Erasmus
Performance of Qhawe, a puppet play by CHR artist-in-residence, Mongi Mthombeni, and performed by Ukwanda Puppet and Design Company (formerly Masiphumelele Youth Development Theatre Group), Farewell Festival for retiring rector of UWC, Brian O’Connell, UWC, 25 October 2014. Photograph: Aidan Erasmus
Scene from Qhawe, a puppet play by CHR artist-in-residence, Mongi Mthombeni, and performed by Ukwanda Puppet and Design Company (formerly Masiphumelele Youth Development Theatre Group). Photograph: Jonathan Jones
Scene from Qhawe, a puppet play by CHR artist-in-residence, Mongi Mthombeni, and performed by Ukwanda Puppet and Design Company (formerly Masiphumelele Youth Development Theatre Group). Photograph: Jonathan Jones
The CHR fellowship programme will continue in 2022 through online platforms and, where permitted, limited live events hosted in compliance with COVID-19 protocols. Please follow our events page for updates about events.
