Dr Sean Baumann's Cantata MADNESS: SONGS OF HOPE AND DESPAIR Coming to Baxter Theatre

Following its acclaimed success at the World Psychiatry International Congress and its once-off staging in December last year, respected psychiatrist Dr Sean Baumann's rousing cantata, MADNESS: SONGS OF HOPE AND DESPAIR, returns to the Baxter Theatre for a limited season this February.

Music composed by Galina Juritz with Dizu Plaatjies and conducted by Chad Hendricks brings Baumann's libretto to life under the direction of Lara Foot. Fiona Moodie integrates her artworks with work by patients of Valkenberg Hospital, with video design by Koeka Stander and lighting design by Patrick Curtis.

Mental illness and psychotic experiences are brought into the spotlight using a combination of rousing music (both live and some recorded), song and striking visual imagery in an attempt to portray the complexities and also the wonder of these strange and ultimately unknowable worlds. The project arose from a concern that the plight of the seriously mentally ill is either ignored or profoundly misunderstood and that this contributes significantly to the suffering of those deemed insane.

The nine-member vocal ensemble comprises sopranos Linda Nteleza, Palesa Portia Malieloa, altos Nolubabalo Babalwa Mdayi, Fikile Mthetwa, tenors Monwabisi Lindi, Vuyisa Jack and Siphesihle Mdena and basses Lungile Halam and Ebenezer Sawuli Madoda.

The small orchestra is made up of musicians Matthijs van Dijk and Galina Juritz (violins), Sarah Evans/Asra Isaacs (viola), Luke Otto/Robert Jeffery (cello), Graham H Strickland (upright bass), Gene Kierman (French horn) and Zeke Le Grange on saxophone.

Dr Sean Baumann is a senior specialist psychiatrist in the department of psychiatry and mental health at the University of Cape Town and a consultant at Valkenberg Hospital, having worked at the hospital in the domain of psychosis for over 20 years. He comments,

Scientific accounts of madness or psychotic experiences tend to be inadequate and impoverished by a limited objective perspective. Literary and other artistic portrayals of psychosis too often lack authenticity, treating madness as a metaphor for personal and social ills.

The narrative of MADNESS: SONGS OF HOPE AND DESPAIR follows a brilliant young student who moves from rural Eastern Cape to the city to study architecture. With his mother struggling to provide for him, he perseveres, falls in love and flourishes but shortly after graduating, something changes. He loses all perception and descends into a harrowing state of psychosis, tormented by voices telling him he is mad.

The subject of mental health and its place in today's society has always intrigued director Lara Foot. Last year, her play THE INCONVENIENCE OF WINGS, about a woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder, premiered to critical acclaim and sold-out performances at the National Arts Festival and at the Baxter. For her research on the development of the play, she worked closely with Baumann to get a better understanding of the prejudices that impact the work done in the area of mental health. Foot is a multi-awarding-winning writer, director and producer and she is the CEO and artistic director of the Baxter Theatre Centre.

Composer Galina Juritz is also an accomplished violinist with extensive experience in a diverse range of musical genres. She has worked as a session player, a composer for ensembles, short films, theatre and television and as a performer with classical and contemporary ensembles. She has collaborated with top local artists such as Freshlyground, Rudimentals, Brydon Bolton, Taxi Violence and Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz winner, Shane Cooper. She was also the principal violinist in Neo Muyanga's MEMORY OF HOW IT FEELS at the Baxter and THE FLOWER OF SHEMBE at Artscape.

Twenty-five-year-old conductor and choir master Chad Hendricks is also a trumpet player. Earlier this year he won the prestigious third annual national Len Van Zyl Conducting Competition, which enabled him to complete an internship with The Philadelphia Orchestra (US). It also afforded him the opportunity to participate in the conducting Masters programme (for a semester) at the Bienen School of Music, Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois (US), under the tuition of Maestro Victor Yampolsky. He is currently the resident conductor of the Cape Town Ghoema Orchestra and the assistant conductor of the Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

Fiona Moodie is an artist and award-winning book illustrator. Exhibitors have showcased her work both locally and abroad. In 2007, she was awarded the Exclusive Books IBBY Award for Illustration for FYNBOS FAIRIES, and in 2010, she received the M.E.R. Prize for Best Children's Book of the Year, with Linda Rode, for IN DIE NIMMER IMMER BOS. Last year, Moodie was honoured with the UNICEF South Africa Award for Best Author, the Media 24 award for Best Children's Book of 2014 and the Exclusive Books IBBY Prize for NOKO AND THE KOOL KATS. For many years she has had a particular interest in outsider art.

Traditional music artist and cultural historian Dizu Plaatjies is no stranger to local audiences. Well-known for his group Amampondo, Dizu has travelled world-wide, sharing his cultural exchange ideas with great success. After Amampondo's international tour, Dizu returned to South Africa and began lecturing African dance and music at the University of Cape Town, a position which he still holds today.

Koeka Stander has created the videography for the cantata. Her most important solo works have included MANINA, EJOLI and GEDAG GID AAN, which the SA National Gallery presented as a triptych, and BO ALLES at the Encounters Documentary Film Festival, a short film that went viral on Facebook receiving well over 22 000 views and shares.

MADNESS: SONGS OF HOPE AND DESPAIR will be staged at the Baxter Theatre for a limited season from 9 - 19 February, with performances at 20:00 nightly and Sunday performances on 12 and 19 February at 18:00. There is an age restriction of 14 years. Tickets cost R150 and booking is online through Computicket, by phone on 0861 915 8000, or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. Pay just R100 for the Early Bird special for bookings made before 31 January. For discounted corporate, schools or block-bookings, charities or fundraisers, contact Sharon Ward on 021 680 3962 or Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Cape Mental Health and Friends of Valkenberg.

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