African Dream

African Dream full tour schedule:

Click here to view the gallery from the East London show at the Corner Pocket, Mdantsane Sun

• Momentum Theatre at the State Theatre, Pretoria, 15 – 18 April
• Ben Marais Hall, Rustenburg, 23 – 25 April
• Mmabana Theatre, Mafikeng, 27 – 29 April
• Mmabana Theatre, Taung, 5 – 8 May
• Escapades Theatre at the Tusk Rio Resort & Casino, Klerksdorp, 12 – 15 May
• War Memorial Hall / Hoza Hall, New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, 19 – 22 May
• Noluthando Hall, Rhini, Grahamstown, 26 – 29 May
• Corner Pocket at Mdantsane Sun, Mdantsane, East London, 2 – 5 June

This theatre production is a musical that incorporates poetry, dialogue, dance and music while painting a vivid picture of South Africa’s struggle in bidding for the Soccer World Cup.

It takes the audience through the journey of when the first bidding took place for the 2006 World Cup, and the trials and tribulations of the bidding committee. It takes us back to the time when the nation was kept on tenterhooks, hungry to show the world that being labelled “third world” did not mean it was incapable of hosting the greatest sporting spectacle on earth.

The audience is transported back to the disappointment that engulfed the nation after losing the 2006 bid by one vote, and its courage to continue to bid for 2010.

Recapture the elation of finally winning the right to host the tournament – the first time the World Cup has been entrusted to Africa in the 100 years of FIFA’s existence.

The story relates the struggle of a country that is still democratically young but bursting with promise, touching on its breathtaking scenic beauty, its wildlife and its various vibrant cultures and ways of life – with a love of soccer evident throughout the production.

The former President’s “I am an African” speech is also incorporated to show that the bid and hosting is for the entire African continent.

All of this is portrayed through engaging narration, music and dance. It’s an explosion of energy complete with vuvuzelas, whistles, diski dancing, Sophiatown grooves and several other audiovisual treats that will keep the audience enthralled and proud to be African at this seminal point in the continent’s history.

The show was presented to audiences free of charge by Seboka, a non-profit organisation, which is based in Tshwane, Gauteng, with satellite offices in Klerksdorp, Ga-Rankuwa and Port Elizabeth.

Registered in 2002, Seboka is committed to improving access for the poor and indigent to healthcare services. It strives to ensure justice for people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases. This is achieved through a multi-sectoral, developmental and integrated approach, with the establishment of strong alliances and networks to coordinate programmes and projects.

Seboka’s vision is to become a primary developmental non-profit making organisation that strengthens the community response to HIV, AIDS and other diseases. In achieving this, its mission is to provide and sustain accredited education, training and mentoring services in the Southern Africa region – particularly in marginalised communities.

Among the organisation’s key objectives are to establish voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) centres that are managed by trained, competent counsellors; to improve access to healthcare services for people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS; and to raise HIV and AIDS awareness, specifically among the youth, women, migrants, sex workers, health workers, employers and employees.

This strategy involves the use of the arts – through workshops and theatre productions – to convey key empowerment, education and developmental messages.

The African Dream production has been on the road for the past seven weeks, with the final show at the Mdantsane Sun in East London. It began successfully at the State Theatre, and has since played to packed theatres across the North West province, as well as in the Eastern Cape. Some of the cast also hosted workshops for people from the communities in each of the towns they visited. These workshops centred around dance, drama and stage management.

OTB has been responsible for managing the logistics around this mammoth undertaking, from booking of venues to accommodation for the 36-strong entourage, to sourcing equipment and security. The tour has been a resounding success for the performers, the crew & the audiences, with many positive reports in the media, both nationally and regionally.