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Ricky Bopape – Director & writer of We On Air

Emerging director and playwright Ricky Bopape is taking his play We On Air – Radio Nonesense 69.4-5 to the National Arts Festival Fringe. We On Air is a light-hearted comedy based on the exciting and ever-evolving world of a radio station – Radio Nonsense on 69.4-5 FM. The play brings radio to the theatre; it chronicles the DJ’s daily life, sending up adverts, jingles and interviews. It also includes live music and dance. It uses comedy as a platform to address social concerns that are currently facing South Africans. Exaggerated props, crazy plots and cleverly disguised names of celebrities are used to address these matters. The mickey is taken out of politicians, taxi drivers and kwaito stars with hilarious results.

Bopape studied Drama at The Paul Rapetsoa Institute of Dramatic Arts (Prida), Photography at The Market Photography Workshop and Music at The Soyikwa Institute of African Theatre. He is currently a drama facilitator on a voluntary basis for the TAXI Art Education Programme (TAEP). He has performed in a number of plays in Johannesburg and was part of a play in last year’s National Arts Festival.

To assist with the development of the play Grethe Fox and Andre Stoltz, two seasoned actors, were approached. In the past three weeks Fox and Stoltz have conducted five six-hour workshops with the aim of improving the skills of the cast. Stoltz has been involved in theatre for two decades and the value of his experience prompted Grethe Fox to bring him on board for what has become a special process for all parties involved. The first workshop gave the cast an opportunity to show Stoltz and Fox what they have been rehearsing for the last six months. And while the performance was well received, it was evident that there was a lot of work to be done. Stoltz and Fox believed that acts such as Yintoni Ndiyekeni (Tony Yengeni) and the Hostela Queens (Mahotella Queens) – who are of course in support of Vuma (Zuma) and not Pheki (Mbeki) were jewels but needed more Vooma!

The performers were challenged to take all the critique they received and implement some changes in order to improve the play. At the next session Fox and Stoltz were not disappointed, as the cast showed their dedication and commitment to the process. The play has improved vastly and the entertainment value doubled. They have taken comedy to the extreme here and with the final workshop approaching, everyone is excited about the big performance in Diepkloof, Soweto on the 22nd of June. Prior to this performance the cast will be performing at Schools in Soweto and surrounding townships in a bid to raise funds for Grahamstown. Bopape and his thespians are raising their own funds for Grahamstown and would appreciate donations from members of the art community.

The cast of twelve is very excited about the workshops and they are very grateful to Grethe Fox and Andre Stoltz for the help that they have received. “I am very impressed with this cast, with the level of dedication and enthusiasm that they have” said Andre Stoltz.

If you would like to make a donation for the play to go to Grahamstown please contact Bazukile Diko – 011 880 5646/bazukile@davidkrut.com

From left: Grethe Fox, Andre Stoltz & Ricky Bopape

Tebogo, Belinda, Palesa & Mpho - Radio Djs & reporters turning up the heat in studio.

Yintoni Ndiyekeni and his ‘intimidating’ body guards.

The Cast

Keywords: Andre Stolz, Bazukile Diko, Comedy, David Krut Arts Resource, David-Krut, Grethe-Fox, Ricky-Bopape, South-African, TAEP, Theatre