Contagious Theatre is set delight audiences at this year’s US Woordfees with two shows – Babbelagtig, a show that depicts the human experience through the emotive medium of clowning and Stof – originally the hit show Dirt written by Nick Warren – now translated into Afrikaans.
Artistic director Jenine Collocott explains that with Babbelagtig (which recently won Best Ensemble at the 9th annual kykNET Fiestas), Contagious set out to create a clown show that’s suitable for all ages, inspired by the international hit, Slava’s Snow Show.
Collocott trained in art of clowning under Giovanni Fusetti, in Florence, Italy. De Klerk Oelofse, Babbelagtig’s producer and one of the performers, has pulled together some of South Africa’s leading comedic actors to bring the show to life.Set designer Wolf Britz has created an exciting and dynamic set, while Charl-Johan Lingernfelder is responsible for sound design.
Collocott describes Babbelagtig as a journey, blending humour and visual poetry, held together by naïve simplicity.“We hope that audiences watch with their hearts; that they will be moved to laughter as well as awe; that the work touches them with its sheer generosity.”
The second show, Stof, is sure to have audiences crying with laughter. Having gone their separate ways for almost a year, the poker club are back together to bury their mutual friend.
On a journey from Johannesburg to Cape Town the trio trade insinuations, insults, and injuries as they try to dig up the past and bury the present.
Stof is age restricted and is not suitable for people under the age of 16.
US Woordfees runs until Sunday March 10, in Stellenbosch.
For more information, visit www.woordfees.co.za or email adminfees@sun.ac.za
