Interview: Five on Friday with Cradle of Creativity visitor Bianca Lakey

With the vision that theatre should be an essential past of every young person's life experience, the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People - known as ASSITEJ - is hosting the Cradle of Creativity in Cape Town this month. Taking place in venues throughout the Mother City, including the Artscape Theatre Centre, the Baxter Theatre and the Cape Town City Hall as well as at cultural hubs in Atlantis, Gugulethu, Langa and Philippi, many young people have had the chance to see productions from all over that world that have been specially created with them in mind. One such pupil, Bianca Lakey, the deputy head girl at Springfield Convent Senior School, attended the Cradle of Creativity as part of a school outing. An enthusiastic Dramatic Arts student, Lakey has taken part in school productions such as THE TROJAN WOMEN and TWELVE ANGRY WOMEN and also contributes significantly to the success of the school's Glee Club. Here is what she thought about her visit to the festival, where she was able to take place in a performing arts workshop as well as attending productions of ANIMAL FARM and RITE OF SPRING.

David Fick: You spent a full day at the Cradle of Creativity as part of a school trip. What do you think is the value of a festival like this for young people like yourself in South Africa?

Bianca Lakey: I think this type of festival is valuable as it allows young people to be exposed to different types of theatre forms by watching stories and messages that are relevant and relatable in society today unfold in front of our eyes. It is also valuable to get in touch and listen to other people's views and opinions and to constantly remain open-minded to what others have to say, which can change or enlighten our own thoughts and opinions; there is always value in that.

DF: The programme for pupils in high school is based at the Artscape Theatre Centre. What was it like to spend the day watching productions, doing workshops and wandering around this particular theatre venue?

BL: It was so enjoyable! I loved watching the productions where I got to see two completely different performances, with messages that were relevant and relatable as a South African and a young girl in society today. The workshop was a really nice bonding experience with girls from my school and having it all done at the Artscape was great as it allowed us to explore the different performance spaces and to ultimately get creative and experience creativity in a place where stories come to life.

DF: What was the highlight of your day at the Cradle of Creativity?

BL: The highlight of my day was probably getting to see the production of RITE OF SPRING. It was the first time I experienced watching an arena-style performance, so I was very excited about that. I was absolutely amazed at the uniqueness of the performance, with the intense physicality and voiceless movements being extremely interesting to watch, as the women showcased the profound physical and emotional process of being and becoming a woman. It was incredible; there's no other way to describe it and was definitely the highlight of my day.

DF: As a young person who is interested in the arts, what do you think is the biggest challenge facing South African theatre at present?

BL: South African theatre has definitely grown a lot over the years. However, theatre in South African is limited as it is not as widely supported in a society where a large number of our country lives in poverty, leaving many with the inability to access the beauty of the arts and missing out on these vital lessons that theatre can teach us. The challenge is to try and get these underprivileged young people to be given access to these type of festivals and outings. It is very important. Another big challenge is the fear of unemployment when it comes to the arts. With only a handful of people having their "big break" in South Africa, it is tough to get support and pursue the arts as a career when thinking about my future.

DF: In South Africa at this time, we have a huge mix of theatre legends and inspiring new artists right now. Who is your South African theatre hero?

BL: Sandra Prinsloo is someone whom I admire as she is such a strong woman in theatre. After seeing her performance in OSCAR AND THE PINK LADY three years ago, and leaving the theatre in tears - that was the moment that I became inspired to continue acting, and she made me realise how much theatre can have an effect on at least one person. Through her one-woman show, she showed me that women can do anything in the world of theatre; therefore, she is my South African theatre hero.

The 19th ASSITEJ World Congress and International Theatre Festival for Children and Young Audiences runs through 27 May. There are still several productions on offer before the festival draws to a close. With detailed information available from the ASSITEJ South Africa website, bookings for all shows are through Computicket.