After recent performances at Artscape, Cape Town Opera will take One in Three, a compilation of powerful opera and play extracts aimed at raising awareness of gender-based violence, to the Stellenbosch Town Hall on Sunday 11 December.
The extracts are from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Sibusiso Njeza’s Amagokra and Marlene van Niekerk’s Die Kortstondige Raklewe van Anastasia W. The concerts are free to the public.
One in Three, proudly sponsored by the Western Cape Government Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport and the National Lotteries Commission, is co-directed by Magdalene Minnaar and Christine Crouse, with musicians Francois Botha, Solomon Mannel and Erika Weber directed by Marvin Kernelle.
Named for the horrifying proportion of abused women and girls in South Africa, One in Three opened with its first performance at Artscape on 25 November 2022, the same day as the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children was launched globally. It is also the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This global campaign aims to draw attention to gender-based violence (GBV), a profound and widespread problem throughout the world.
Cape Town Opera’s Artistic Director Magdalene Minnaar has invited several people, advocates for ending gender-based violence, to share a few words between the opera performances. “Craftivist” Nell-Louise Pollock’s embroidered works have been used throughout the performance. She commented: “None of us is immune to the consequences of gender-based violence in our communities. I want people to pause, pay respect, become aware, and spread the message to end GBV.”
Extracts from the spirited Porgy and Bess, composed to a libretto by DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin, features Nonhlanhla Yende as Bess and Mandisinde Mbuyazwe as Crown. In the story the titular Bess is abused by her man, Crown, and the drug peddler Sportin’ Life, throughout the opera. Her attempts to find safety and a new life for herself with Porgy are constantly thwarted by the men’s interference and violence, threatening not only her autonomy but also her life.
Amagokra (Heroes), composed by Sibusiso Njeza to an isiXhosa libretto by Fleur du Cap-winning actress and writer Asanda Chuma Sopotela, sees Linda Nteleza as Uyinene, Pumza Mxinwa and Lusibalwathu Sesanti as Umfazi, Nonhlanhla Yende as Nomakhwezi and the narrator, joined by the award winning Cape Town Opera Chorus. The plot grapples with themes of gender-based violence, femicide, victim blaming and, ultimately, women’s strength through ordeal.
Excerpts from Die Kortstondige Raklewe van Anatasia W (The short shelf-life of Anastasia W), a play written by Marlene van Niekerk, with incidental music by Braam du Toit, features guest artist Nicole Holm as Sus and Cape Town Opera Young Artist Van Wyk Venter as Daan. The play was written in response to the appalling statistics of violence against children in South Africa. The Anastasia named in the title refers to little Annestacia Wiese, the 11-year-old girl who was assaulted and murdered in Mitchell’s Plain in 2007.
One in Three takes place on Sunday 11 December at 15:00 at the Stellenbosch Town Hall. Those wishing to secure complimentary tickets should email rsvp@capetownopera.co.za by 10 December and they will be contacted by reply email with a confirmation.
