FTH:K is a young, independent theatre company whose with the mantra of: Listen with your Eyes. Its non-verbal, visual theatre integrates the Deaf and hearing communities, and has won multiple awards in its 7 years of existence. Its aim of bringing together Deaf and hearing artists, audiences and educators is best illustrated through its unique Tell-Tale Signs programme which is currently training South Africa's first generation of Deaf people for inclusion in the professional performing arts industry. There is currently no other project like it (nor has there ever been) running in South Africa.
OfficeBLOCK Free State Tour
8 - 14 August
OfficeBLOCK Gauteng Tour
20 Aug - 8 Sept
OfficeBLOCK Baxter Theatre
10 - 21 July
OfficeBLOCK Western Cape Tour
22 - 31 July
Two-Hander
TBC
Trainee Performance
TBC
“FTH:K is an independent and vibrant theatre company that has enriched the South African theatre landscape with its original and unique approach to visual theatre. Having pioneered itself as a groundbreaking South African theatre company which casts both hearing and Deaf actors, their work challenges and enriches both the artists and the audiences through a combination of visual and performing arts forms such as puppetry, masks and live performance. As trendsetters of this genre in South Africa, it is clearly evident that the current growth in visual theatre on the festival and mainstream circuit is influenced by FTH:K’s prolific style and their ability to continually raise the bar both on excellence and innovation.”
Ismail Mahomed, Director, National Arts Festival
FTH:K co-founder and founding Artistic Director, Rob Murray, who received a Fleur du Cap award for Best Lighting Design for the production Pictures of You, was also nominated for the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initative to work with the Mentor Peter Sellars. Candidates are nominated anonymously by leading professionals in their field, and it is a great honour to have been considered.
Perhaps you have heard that FTH:K won’t be at the National Arts Festival this year. This was difficult decision for us to take because we haven’t missed a Festival…well…ever, but something we have learnt along the way is that sometimes “No” is the right answer. We have a major project in the pipeline for our next NAF appearance so look out for it on the 2013 NAF programme. Until then, we’ve decided to team up once more with the fabulous Baxter Theatre to present our newest work OfficeBLOCK from the 10th – 21st July in the Golden Arrow Studio Theatre.
Those of you who follow us regularly will know that every year FTH:K hits the road for a National Tour, and in typical FTH:K style, in 2012 we shot for the stars and took on our biggest National Tour yet! The first leg of the tour has just been finished - KZN - as last weekend, we welcomed the touring team back and gave them a well-deserved week off.
The winners of the Handspring Puppetry Awards, 2011, were announced on Sunday, 11 September, at the Little Theatre on UCT's Hiddingh Campus, with five categories carrying a R7000 prize for each winner.
Benchmarks won an award and was nominated in three categories at the second annual Handspring Puppetry Awards, which was recently announced at the closing ceremony of the Out the Box Festival of Puppetry and Visual Theatre Festival.
Finally collated all media responses to Kardiāvale at the recent National Arts Festival. Just in time for our upcoming shows at Out the Box! 5th and 6th September, ladies and gentlemen, 5th and 6th September. Check the event here.
"…tight, sharp and funny…original and quirky…While the show is broke-down-carni-playing-a-broken-piano-in-a-yard-behind-a-dilapidated-bar-strewn-with-empty-bottles over-the-top bawdy burlesque, the story it [...]
As we prepare for our participation in the upcoming Out the Box Festival of Puppetry and Visual Performance, check out these visuals for Kardiāvale, collated here for your convenience. Don’t say we don’t love you!
Here’s the official trailer for the NAF, directed and edited by Michel Malek:
Then, a short irreverent viral teaser made by Daniel [...]
