Short, Sharp & Snappy 1 and 2: Southern African plays for high schools compiled by Robin Malan and Colleen Moroukian

The launch of companion volumes of plays marks World Aids Day

Junkets Publisher is launching its two-volume collection of Southern African plays for performance or performed readings for high schools on World Aids Day, 1 December 2011, at Oude Libertas near Stellenbosch.

While being a celebration of these eagerly-awaited collections of short plays, titled Short, Sharp & Snappy 1 and 2, the launch will also serve to mark World Aids Day in two ways.

First, Jonathan Khumbulani Nkala, a young playwright whose play Faith in Love appears in volume 1 and whose play The Bicycle Thief appears in volume 2, will read a poem of his called ‘Xavier’s Lament’, which recounts the death from Aids-related illness of a young neighbour of his.

The main event of the launch will follow. A group of young actors from New Crossroads and Philippi called The Lost Voices will perform an extract from Monti Jola’s play The New Struggle, which appears in volume 2 of the Short, Sharp & Snappy collections.

The Lost Voices group is comprised of present and recent school students; they achieved success with their presentation of The New Struggle during the Zabalaza Festival at the Baxter Theatre earlier in the year.

‘The point of the play,’ says author Monti Jola, an experienced writer and director of community theatre, ‘is that the political struggle may be over, but we now have to mobilise the youth to fight this new struggle, the scourge of this disease. The plays shows young people coming to terms with these things inside their own schools.’

According to Robin Malan, owner-manager of Junkets Publisher and the co-compiler with Colleen Moroukian of these collections, Monti Jola’s play ‘does this both with great seriousness and with great wit and liveliness – an ideal vehicle to get the message across.’

Of the launch, Malan goes on to say: ‘It makes sense, in the context of the pandemic that is ravaging the lives of so many young people in our country, to temper our celebration with some sober reflection. What Jonathan Khumbulani Nkala and The Lost Voices are saying in their work is that attention must be paid to those who have succumbed to the pandemic, to those who are living with the virus, as well as to those who are living with those who are living with the virus. At the same time, we should be mindful of the work done by those who have found ways of managing the disease and those who are working towards finding a lasting cure.’

The launch is at 5.30 for 6 p.m. on Thursday 1 December 2011 at the Oude Libertas Art Gallery and Auditorium just outside Stellenbosch. People attending are advised to leave early to avoid peak-hour traffic. The two books will be on sale for R140 each, for cash only (no cards).

Because of constraints on the number of seats in the auditorium, it is essential that people who wish to attend first obtain an invitation by emailing info [at] junkets.co.za or calling 076 169 2789. If you wish to order copies of the books @ R140 each, please use the same address or number.

Junkets Publisher acknowledges the assistance of the Arts & Culture Trust in publishing these books; and the generosity of Distell in providing both the venue and the wine for the launch.

www.junkets.co.za

SHORT, SHARP & SNAPPY 1 AND 2: Southern African plays for high schools

Cost: R140 per volume

Order now from info.junkets [at] iafrica.com or contact Robin on +27(0)76 169 2789 or Andi on +27(0)78 763 3177