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<\/p>\nFor more than 50 years, Glenwood actor, playwright and director Ralph Lawson has dedicated his life to the world of theatre and film arts. Now, he is inspiring a new generation of environmental and theatrical guardians.<\/p>\n
As an award-winning theatre veteran, he\u2019s stood on stage, behind the scenes and in front of a camera alongside local and international greats. He says along the way, he came to realise that so much about theatre, in its essential form, is handed down by practical experience. This has spurred Ralph Lawson on to launch the Legacy Project \u2013 an innovative roaming production that aims to empower the next generation in theatre and through theatre.<\/p>\n
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Sthandwa and the Nature Thieves<\/em> is a captivating theatrical production that tackles pressing environmental issues such as keeping our surroundings clean, conserving water and preventing pollution. It boasts a two-fold strategy, from the young audiences for whom this production is aimed to the young cast that Ralph works closely with.<\/p>\n \u201cMany of the actors in this production come from a community arts mentorship background where their training and exposure in theatre began at a grassroots level. Some of them were inspired to study the arts further at tertiary level, and now, through this production, they are in a space where they gain exposure to mentorship and training in everything – from stage set-up, to managing lighting to developing their skills in puppetry. This experience will empower them with employment and further skills to help them advance in the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n Ralph says the idea is to eventually move on to the second phase of the Legacy Project, involving the hosting of regular master classes to further empower emerging artists and professionals in the arts.<\/p>\n He has a host of production cast appearances under his belt, including roles in the BBC film, The Mauritanian,<\/em> and the South African TV series, Madam and Eve,<\/em> and has wowed audiences at the Baxter Theatre, Grahamstown Arts Festival and Manchester Royal Exchange.\u00a0 As a playwright, he wrote Sthandwa and the Nature Thieves<\/em>, which aligns with World Children’s Day, celebrated on November 20, as it shines a spotlight on critical issues affecting children everywhere, including conflict and mental health, ending racism, gender discrimination, climate change and sustainability.<\/p>\n Written and directed by Ralph, under Ralph Lawson Edutainment, the play follows the journey of Sthandwa, a brave heroine who sets out to discover why she can no longer communicate with nature. Along the way, she must overcome her fears and confront the Nature Thieves, a mischievous gang responsible for the degradation of the planet.<\/p>\n With a talented cast, and through creative puppetry, Sthandwa and the Nature Thieves<\/em> brings to life the importance of sustainable living, rights and responsibilities. This enchanting tale highlights the interconnectedness of all living things and encourages children to become the guardians of our planet’s future.<\/p>\n Ralph says the production promises to engage, educate and entertain young minds.<\/p>\n \u201cTheatre has the power to inspire and shape young perspectives, and this production is the perfect catalyst for sparking a love for the environment and a desire to protect it. Through this entertaining and informative live theatre performance, aimed specifically at reinforcing the work done in the classroom for learners to enjoy, we\u2019ve witnessed children enthusiastically joining the fight against environmental degradation as they cheer on the heroine of our play,\u201d says Ralph, adding that Sthandwa and the Nature Thieves<\/em> brings the perfect finale to Term 4.<\/p>\n \u201cOur engaging theatre production is currently touring schools in the greater Durban area, delighting students with an entertaining and educational experience that wraps up the year on a high note.\u201d<\/p>\n It also offers a unique opportunity for schools to fundraise as a final attempt to boost their funds this year. Businesses can also sponsor performances at local schools, aligning with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the high schools are doing quite well in that there are several theatre companies servicing these learners with dramatisations of setworks. However, primary schools seem to have been left behind. If we care about the future of theatre and the arts, we must try to tap into their curiosity earlier on, so that when they are older, they may want to go into the theatre.\u201d Ralph adds that, sadly, most of the rural schools they\u2019ve travelled to are not subjected to anything like this.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause they are less privileged, they are often not able to come into the city centre to experience theatre. In this show, we try to give the children a full-on theatrical experience in the hope that it will inspire a love for the environment and open doors for us all to work together to protect our planet for future generations, one performance at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/highway-berea\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2024\/10\/Sthandwa-Hires-2-400x267.jpg\")
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