Hopes and Memories Project

 

International Operatic Drama

 

Synopsis

 

" The Last Anniversary " tells the story of the adventures of an African traveler stuck in an airport upon arrival in Europe. Caught in the administrative and judicial system, arrested and questioned, he remembers his ancestors and the price they had to pay for liberty. Inspired by the opera “The Barrier” by Langston Hughes and Jan Meyerowitz, this creation combines jazz and African influences with the original opera and explores the issue of fundamental human rights, the history of migration and of discrimination and racial profiling. It is also an invitation into the inner journey that shows the complexity of the individual and collective historical trajectory, which in many cases is the opposite of what the popular media and mainstream policy would have us believe.

 

The Project Hopes & Memories

 

Over that last two years the HOPES & MEMORIES project has been ongoing between performing arts groups in South Africa, France, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary co-funded by the European Union and the respective partners. After much experimentation and discovery by the partners in residencies throughout the 5 countries a new work entitled, THE LAST ANNIVERSARY, and inspired by the Langston Hughes/Jan Meyerowitz opera, THE BARRIER, has emerged.

 

This innovative work is an operatic drama which includes scenes & music from the original opera and new music created, Raphael Imbert a celebrated jazz Saxophonist from France (who worked extensively with Zim Nqawana) and Ildo Nandja, a Moçambiquean bass player and traditional instrumentalist now living in RSA. South African audiences can expect to be treated to an eclectic combination of beautiful operatic music, and a selection of new fusion style African and European jazz music in a drama that centres on the racial profiling as encountered in immigration and travel around the world. THE LAST ANNIVERSARY tells the story of the tribulations of an African traveller in a European airport. Whilst a ‘suspended’ traveller, his emotional memory takes him back to moments in a ‘slavery past’ which are excerpts from the Meyerowitz/Hughes opera.

 

Co-artistic directors Laurent Festas (FR) and Themi Venturas (RSA) who have teamed up to create the dramaturgy of THE LAST ANNIVERSARY have assembled a cast drawn from all 5 countries, which includes opera singers, actor/ dancers, the musicians and a highly skilled production team. Durban dancers Vusi Makhanya and Mdu Mtshali from South Africa team up with Caroline Lemiere and Ikki Hoshino and Bertrand Festas from Euroculture en Pays Gentiane in France and Flora Eszter Sarlos from  Zero Ballet in Hungary to make up an exciting group of actor/dancers. Thabang Edward Phiri from Gauteng and Kelebogile Besong (nee Boikanyo) Team up with Till Fechner to provide the operatic voices in the piece. The choreography for the piece is made by Gyula Berger from Zero Ballet from Hungary and Mdu Mtshali from South Africa.

 

The scenography is designed by Tomaś Žižka of Prague, the Costume design is by Dragan Stojcevski also of the Czech Republic whilst the Audiovisual design is by Michaela Bottkova and Lukaś Matejka from Kosicé in Slovakia.

 

Stage cast :

Mdu Mtshali (SA) stars as Robert Gumede

Vusi Makanya (SA) : Mthandile Ngubane

Themi Venturas (SA) is the South African Airline pilot

Flora Eszter Solas (Hungary) : NGO worker

Bertrand Festas (France) Customs Police

Ikki Hoshino, (France/Japan) Japanese journalist

Caroline Lemiere (France) Customs Police

Laurent Festas (France) lawyer

Till Fechner (France) Chief Inspector of Customs / Norwood in the operatic sections

Thabang Edward Phiri (SA) Bert in the operatic sections

Kelebogile Besong (SA) cleaner in the airport and s/ Cora in the operatic sections

 

Musician :

Ildo Nandja, bass

Rapheäl Imbert, saxo

 Martn Surot, Piano

 

THE LAST ANNIVERSARY tour :

 

In Europe :

Church -  Saint -Amandin in Auvergne (Fr)  - Musical form – 27 September

Bakelit multi art center in Budapest (Hg) – Premiere – 7 October – 8 pm

Centre for contemporary arts - Bratislava (Sk) – 9 October – 8 pm

Studio of Heros in Prague (Cz) – 13 October – 8 pm

In South Africa :

Stable Theatre - Durban (Sa) - 23 & 24 October

Market Theatre - Johannesburg (Sa) - from 30 Oct to 2 Nov

 

Contact in France :

Euroculture en Pays Gentiane / euroculutrecie@gmail.com / 0033620927649

Contact in Hungary  :

Zero Ballet / gyberger@gmail.com / 000036705016802

Contact in Czech Republic and Slovakia :

Trackt & Mamapapa / michalsomos@gmail.com / 0042776250812

Contact in South Africa :

Keep the dream / themiventuras@gmail.com / 0027825548334