The Ogreling
Intimate Theatre
Dates
Mon 5 September 17:00, 20:00,
Tue 6 September: 9:30, 12:30
Duration
70 min
Appropriate for
7+
The Ogreling/ Izim’elincinci is a beautiful play using evocative shadow puppetry and compelling performances to tell the story of a six year old ogre. The production won a Silver Ovation at the 2011 National Arts Festival, and was celebrated for its sophisticated yet engaging treatment of the notion of doing battle with one’s own inner demons, the never-ending struggle between the good and evil that lives inside all of us.
The Ogreling/ Izim’elincinci is a South Africanised version of the modern classic, written by French Canadian writer, Suzanne LeBeau. Beautifully written, this poetic two-hander employs two engaging actors and evocatively uses shadow puppetry to create the dream landscape of the subconscious and memory. The play is a sophisticated yet engaging treatment of the notion of doing battle with one’s own inner demons, the never-ending struggle between the good and evil that lives inside all of us… It is provocative and captivating – for children and adults! Does the ogreling rehabilitate himself or not?
Reviews:
“The Ogreling lends itself to cult status… (it) is a child’s delight, which also satisfies the adult contingent..” Johann Smith, Bizcommunity review
“a charming, moving story built of evergreen, elemental narrative components and will appeal to young and old.” Zane Henry, The Argus
“It reminds us that theatre is not there only to entertain. It is perhaps even more importantly, also there to intrigue and to challenge.” Tyrone August, Cape Times
“This is definitely a play to see, no matter how old you are and even if you don’t have a convenient child to accompany. It is truly African theatre, despite its Canadian beginnings…” Gill Gimsberg, Writing Studio Review
“Thank you for a profound theatre experience that treated both me and my child like the thinking, feeling humans we are. Challenging us to grapple with important issues and delighting us all with exquisite visuals and nuanced and invested performances. This is the children’s theatre I’ve waited 12 years to take my daughter to see.” – Jaqueline Dommisse, director of Sadako
“I sat on the tip of my seat…The combination of different kinds of theatre approaches was breathtaking. The play has a realistic set, yet the performance is imaginative with puppetry, singing and a beautiful tale.” – Student reviewer 2011 school festival.
“This Ogreling is a beauty – A beautifully realised staged fable, The Ogreling, is tenderly acted and sensitively directed. On one level, the tale is a mere story of a young ogre overcoming his dangerous compulsions and difference in order to be socially acceptable and not compulsively dangerous to the community. However, at another, more poetic level, it is about the shadow in the psyche and psychological archetypes – the mythological hero’s journey to undertake trials being an analogy for the integration and assimilation of the darker aspects of the psyche; and an initiation into maturity. The young ogreling, who starts off as a child innocent of his true nature, has to overcome the savage and destructive aspects of his genetic heritage. The story is clearly and simply told, which is the best form of theatre. The actors, Thembani Luzipho and Nonceba Constance are wonderful. Along with the naturalistic dialogue, the play is also theatrically rendered through shadow puppets and an atmospheric score of indigenous music and sound effects. The staging choices in set design, and how it is used, and the theatrical devices used, cleverly serve the material. Yvette Hardie’s direction and adaptation to a South African context is imaginative without being overly obvious.” — Jane Stone, National Arts Festival Artsblog
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[...] notable experiences included The Ogreling (director Yvette Hardie) which featured a large adult actor playing a charming gap toothed ogre in [...]