Mark and Jill's South Africa trip 2015

One of the first organisations Jill and I are visiting is the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. It was formed in the late 1970s by Mannie Manim and the late Barney Simon, and became known around the world as the ‘Theatre of the Struggle’. The performances they made challenged the apartheid regime and dared to stand up against social injustice. It’s the perfect place for us to start our cultural tour – a place where brave, revolutionary and radical performances continue to be made.

This trip has personal resonance for me in particular. The apartheid-era play The Island by Athol Fugard sparked my interest in theatre directing and I have always wanted to visit the country which inspired it.

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Exploring the culture of Johannesburg

03-Jul-2015 | Mark Babych - Mark and Jill’s South Africa trip 2015

It’s the end of day three here on our trip to South Africa. Tonight is our last night in Jo'burg before we fly down to Port Elizabeth and then onto the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown where some of the best work happening in South Africa today is showcased.

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Meeting with artists and culture leaders in Port Elizabeth

06-Jul-2015 | Mark Babych - Mark and Jill’s South Africa trip 2015

Leaving behind the bustling city of Jo'burg we flew south to the Eastern Cape and on to the city of Port Elizabeth in the metropolitan area of Nelson Mandela Bay. The historical watering place of the British Empire on the way to the Indies, Port Elizabeth has a distinctly different social and political environment. The City is small. In contrast to the growing spread of Jo'burg and its ability to attract ever growing numbers of skilled workers, PE has been bleeding talent. PE is a city on the edge of the cape, on the edge of South Africa, and in some senses it feels like the forgotten city. The central business district is very small - one street precisely, and a major road with a flyover cuts the city off from the huge docks that is a major area for potential development. I take a look at this huge road and how it severs the city from an important part of its identity and it all feels very familiar.

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Final days and reflections before heading home

14-Jul-2015 | Mark Babych - Mark and Jill’s South Africa trip 2015

It’s our last day in South Africa after 16 days of absorbing, inspiring and often moving encounters with people, places and latterly performances.

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