THE CONCEPT BEHIND RAW SILK:
Glenda Jones grew up in the harsh “gangland” environment of Elsies River, Cape Town, South Africa. RAW SILK is based on her true to life experiences where her family shared a fence with a huge squatter camp and where some of the most notorious gangsters in the Western Cape lived. It was in this volatile and fearful situation that Glenda started recognising the tragic ramifications of poverty and the devastation it reeked on the lives of all who fell under the “curse” of being homeless. “From a very early age I became aware of the “smell” of poverty and it is this stark memory that motivated me to write the dance/drama RAW SILK. I was therefore able to cast many of the characters in the production on the actual people who lived in the squatter camp and who society labelled then and still do now, as “skollies”, “jintus” “bergies” and street children.
THE PRODUCTION:
RAW SILK is an edgy, intense true to life dance/drama with original songs, a compelling script and outstanding choreography. It will take you on a journey to the heart from the moment the curtain rises, and will remain there long after it falls. Where day is night and night is day, RAW SILK explores the dark and shadowy underworld of South Africa’s street children growing up in a harsh and unforgiving neighbourhood that seemingly cocoons them. This sensitive and thought-provoking production unveils the street children as “silkworms” that hold the most beautiful and precious threads of raw silk.
THE CAST:
An extremely multi talented and dynamic cast of 30+ performers, whose unbridled passion, electrifying stage presence and sheer raw talent left audiences speechless with the company’s phenomenal production run of
UNCHAINED at the Baxter in April 2016.
“Afrika Ablaze is a living example of the power and therapy of dance.” Cape Argus
“Much has been written about this dynamic group that seems to be taking the Western Cape and South Africa by storm” Argus Tonight
“Glenda Jones has an enormous capacity for dreaming up shows on a grand scale“ Cape Times
“Agile bodies, bold choreography, unbridled passion and a taste of sheer talent” Argus Tonight
SHOW DATES & TIMES:
28/03/2017 – 8pm
29/03/2017 – 8pm
30/03/2017 – 12pm & 8pm
31/03/2017 – 8pm
01/04/2017 – 2pm & 8pm
Book at Computicket – http://online.computicket.com/web/event/raw_silk/1097203904