New Voices Programme Amplifies Emerging Storytellers at Cape Town's Artscape Theatre

Cape Town’s ‘New Voices’ programme, an initiative by the Artscape Theatre and City of Cape Town’s Arts and Culture branch, dedicated its spotlight on emerging artists this week. The programme focuses on mentoring budding scriptwriters to form original works, acknowledging the significant role storytelling plays in today's international context.

The City’s Cultural Mapping Planning and the Arts Aweh! initiatives facilitated the programme. The core objective was to encourage the artists to design stories based on their individual experiences and perceptions, moulded by their personal histories and surrounding environment.

Councillor Patricia van der Ross, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, expressed the City's strong support for the initiative. She emphasized that the programme supports new creatives and grants them opportunities to showcase their work to fresh audiences. She also acknowledged the arts' contribution to cultural identity and well-being.

Devon Swartz, the Director of DS Productions, detailed more about the programme's approach. The 'Power of Storytelling' methodology, a structured process designed by the DS Production directors, was implemented to inspire artists to craft captivating monologues around their personal stories. The aim was to facilitate a deeper connection with the audience through authentic storytelling.

Marlene Le Roux, the CEO of the Artscape Theatre Centre, declared the evolving nature of the program over the years. Le Roux stated that the programme holds several life-changing opportunities for young, aspiring theatre makers, through its annual flagship programmes, including staged readings, full productions, and a series of monologues by young Cape Flats writers.