ASSITEJ SA has been delighted to host playwright and novelist, Fikry El Azzouzi in South Africa, first at the Vrystaat Kunste Fees, and then in Johannesburg, at a workshop held at the Windybrow Arts Centre, for ten playwrights. This playwriting exchange project aims to develop new work for 11-15-year-olds, supported by the Government of Flanders.
This project, supported by the Government of Flanders, hopes to foster a dynamic intercultural exchange between artists passionate about theatre for young audiences, as well as to stimulate the creation of new work using innovative methodologies and approaches, which will allow young audiences in South Africa to access theatre, directly relevant to their most burning concerns.
In a dialogue between local writers and playwright/novelist Fikry El Azzouzi, the workshop and mentorship programme aims to exchange knowledge and practices as well as to find ways to address sensitive topics and through theatre give voice and agency to young audiences aged 11 – 15+ years old.
One South African playwright will receive a commission to further develop the play for a staged reading at Teksmark in October, and we hope to support a full production to come to the Cradle of Creativity in 2025.