Guardians of Eden
by Jodie Lightfoot
Many African people use theatre as an expressive means to
communicate. Theatre encompasses the creative processes and visual
aid to bring forth ideas, opinions, and political ideology to
their audience to get their point across. The Theatre of Africa
attempt to achieve just that in a 90 minute play set in a rural
village in Africa.
Guardians of Eden was created by Nicholas Ellenbogen. To get his
ideas, he visited native communities and saw firsthand the issues
that affected the residents and the surrounding wildlife species.
He saw the delicate balance between humans and animal survival and
expressed those ideas that in his play. Nicholas also observed how
these problems due to poverty, were intertwined and
inter-connected to situations endured in neighbouring
countries.
The theme revolves around people from rural villages across Africa
who convene together to discuss their survival in a changing
world. They cannot agree on a direction for their future so they
decide to reinact the past and present in order to pattern their
future.
This play seeks to enlighten Western audiences to their part and
responsibility in Africa's present day situation. Portrayed
through humour, sorrow, song and dance, it is a heart warming,
hand clapping, toe tapping play and shows wonderful insight into
the African culture.
If you missed the Guardians of Eden on Sunday, there
is still one more chance to catch it on Monday afternoon at 12:30,
here at the congres.