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.