Kenya Puppetry Theatre Platform 2011, Nov 19 2011 @ Kenya National Theatre

by with One Comment theater & performances

Programme

11.00 am Bunraku – The puppet with there (3) puppeteers
Bunraku is based on the traditional Japanese puppet theater form founded in Osaka in 1684 whereby three puppeteers manipulate one puppet.  The performance is fused with a mixture of contemporary African puppet theatre technique and music

Sahara is a Bunraku puppet manipulated by three puppeteers; he is a mute puppet male of gender and in the mid 60s in age.
The major objective of this performance is to entertain and educate on issues touching on the life of every individual on a daily basis on issues like corruption, poverty, hunger etc. The show starts when Safari is asleep on stage; he wakes up from sleep and narrates a story about long time ago

Performance style
Bunraku puppet is complete puppet performance manipulated by three puppeteers. This is a performance intending to capture a variety of styles of puppet in combination with light simulations and sound tracks. In the safari performance styles included are the Bunraku puppet itself, mask dance and shadow puppet

Duration: 30 minutes.

3.00 pm The Last Man Standing
The Last Man Standing Puppetry Performance is an out-of-the ordinary performance from the world of the dead and the living. It is a tale of a brave wildebeest called Mara and recounted by Bones (Mara’s Carcass) in the year 2070. A letter written by the Mask in 2010 is warning people of the pending danger caused by climate change years before the wildebeest were wiped away. Mara goes through the most trying moments in her life, ending up as the last carcass – (BONES). This is a story that will take the audience through the life cycle of a wildebeest, times of struggle, bravery, famine, life and death.

Technique:
Performance is a  multi-disciplinary, multi – cultural performance from two worlds (dead and living) deviating from the conventional theatrical presentations, yet at the same time incorporating existing modern and traditional theatrical genres together with other art elements such as puppets, objects, figures, architecture, installation, dance and music.

Duration: 50 minutes

5.00 pm Atieno – Story of a young African girl
 “Atieno” in Kenyan literature is symbolic of the girl who goes through a lot of suffering and tribulations more so due to society’s structures, attitudes and perceptions towards the Girl.  Perhaps Atieno will represent he contemporary African girl who is at the crossroads between education, development, relationship marriage and career. Atieno is the story of a young Girl brought up by her grandmother who lives by the edge of the forest, they live normal lives continuing with their daily chores as an ordinary village family.  Through deceit and trickery a young Man, Obi takes atieno away from her home into a strange land filled with evil monsters and creatures.  Atieno goes through a lot of tribulations in this strange land.  She finally manages to free herself and reach even greater heights through self talent search and ends up back to her grieving grandmother

Performance style
The play utilizes puppetry as its main discourse.  Through fusion of different types of puppetry techniques that include, object theatre, contemporary masks, rod puppet spectacle and black theatre techniques.  The performance is accompanied by poetry, traditional and contemporary music.

Duration: 40 minutes
Poetry by: Sonnia Gitome

XYZ SCREENINGS DURING INTERVALS!

Tickets:
200/- per show
500/- all shows

Contact: Tony 0733527595, Kyalo 0723871274

Charity: Christmas Fair and Family Fun Day, Nov 20 2011 @ Loreto Convent Msongari

by with No Comment charity

Loreto Convent Msongari’s ‘Christmas Fair and Family Fun Day’ fundraiser to be held at Loreto Convent Msongari on Sunday, 20th November, 2011, beginning at 12 noon.

You may be aware of the tragic road accident that happened on 29th July, 2011 in Meru involving pupils and teachers of Loreto Convent Msongari Primary School.  On board were pupils in Standard Seven and Eight, some of who sustained severe injuries including facial and body impairments as well limb amputations.

Some girls require prosthetic and reconstructive surgery. Due to the limited capacity for functional prosthetic fittings and rehabilitation in Kenya, the doctors have advised that this treatment is best carried out abroad. The surgery alone costs several million shillings per patient which is, for the most part, outside the cover of most medical insurance schemes. The financial burden for these highly-specialized medical procedures will therefore fall on the families of pupils.

Consequently, the Loreto Msongari Alumni group, in partnership with the Loreto Msongari sisters, have committed themselves to assist the families of the affected students obtain funding to ensure continued medical care for the children. This will be through various fundraising events to take place over the next one year.

The first of these events is a ‘Family Fun Day and Christmas Fair’ fundraiser. The event will bring together present and past students, teachers, family, friends and well- wishers. The day’s program will include performances by Msongari students and local entertainers, live music, and recreational activities for children. There will also be a wide range of arts, crafts, and refreshments for sale.   Our goal is to raise Ksh. 15 million towards the much needed medical treatment.