HALF PAD HUIS TOE: AGTER DIE KARAKTER

---

---

Amari Maré

@amari.maré

 

‘n Ontploffing, ’n psigiatriese inrigting en ’n groep mense met hul eie pyn, trauma en geheime. ’n tragikomedie-produksie deur Thalia Toneel: Halfpad Huis Toe.

 

Na drie jaar praat Unicka Bothma nog steeds met passie en liefde oor Thalia. Sy is die voorbeeld van wat dit beteken om nederig te wees, maar nogsteeds in jouself te glo en jou passie te volg. Sy beskryf dat sy in haar eerste jaar deel was van die toneel en in haar tweede jaar was sy die bemarkingsbestuurslid vir Thalia. In haar derde jaar het sy die voorsitterposisie behaal. Sy is omring met vriendinne wat haar motiveer en aanmoedig. In ruil lei sy met nederigheid, en liefde vir Thalia en toneel. Bothma en haar bestuurspan het die karakters ontwikkel, gevorm en ’n toneel geskryf uit niks uit nie. 

 

Die kolonel, vertolk deur Jason Brand, beskryf sy ervaring as genotlik. Om hom vir ’n paar uur ten volle in sy karakter in te leef in die toneel en weg te breek van die werklikheid kan eenvoudig beskryf word as genotlik. Meyer raai die gehoor aan om volgende keer ’n bietjie cheri te drink teen die koue, wat sal help om lekker te lag en dit meer te geniet. 

 

“Spring in die diepkant in en hoop vir die beste,” sê Hendro Strydom toe hy die rol van ’n weeskind moes vertolk. Strydom vertel dat die karakter ongemaklik was om uit te beeld in die begin. Om die karakter beter te verstaan moes hy ’n verbintenis bou om die karakter korrek uit te beeld en effektief aan die gehoor oor te dra. Na die hoogtepunt van die aand beskryf hy dat sy eie honger hom nader aan sy karakter gebring het. Strydom deel dat alhoewel die karakter deur moeilike tye gegaan het, wou hy nie gehad het ander moes deel in sy swaarkry nie. Die karakter se skerp woordjies en grappies was dikwels die lig in ’n donker tonnel vir ander. 

 

Strydom verduidelik dat dit soms uitdagend kan wees om by te hou met 17 karakters op die verhoog, maar op die ou einde het elke persoonlikheid bygedra tot hul karakter en die groter prentjie. Strydom is lief daarvoor om op die verhoog te wees en ’n karakter te vertolk voor ‘n gehoor. Gedurende die dag swot hy IT (inligtingstegnologie) en in die nag kom die passievolle kunstenaar uit. Die mengsel van passie, min slaap en goeie tydsbestuur is waarna Strydom streef.

 

“As God vir jou ‘n talent gegee het, gaan Hy plek maak daarvoor,” vertel Danelle Chereé Titus, en dit is presies wat met die karakters en die produksieproses gebeur het. Titus, die talentvolle produksiebestuurder van Thalia Toneel, vertel dat baie van die studente die vermoë het om ernstige karakters te vertolk, maar dat sy vir hulle die geleentheid wou gee om in ‘n drama te speel en daardie aspek van toneel te verken. Titus sê sy wens mense kon werklik die hart agter die toneel raaksien en besef hoeveel bloed, sweet en trane in ‘n produksie ingaan. Haar raad aan jongmense wat toneel nastreef, is om eers jouself te vestig, maar moenie die vlam wat jy vir toneel het, laat doodgaan nie.

 

Die naam “Thalia” kom uit die Griekse mitologie waar Thalia die muse van komedie en idilliese gedigte is. Thalia Toneel vier vanjaar hul 80ste bestaansjaar en vier die prestasie as die oudste kunsteverenigning op kampus.

 

Thalia Toneel is vir almal—studente wat jare lank al toneel doen, studente wat nog nooit toneel gedoen het nie, studente wat agter die skerms wil wees en studente met ’n liefde vir toneel op ’n ander manier. Thalia het ‘n plekkie vir jou!

 

Thalia Toneel: Half Pad Huis Toe bestuurspan, komitee-lede en akteurs (Oorsprong: Elandri Olwage).

Thalia Toneel: Half Pad Huis Toe Produksie Akteurs (Oorsprong: Elandri Olwage).

 

Teksredigering deur Isabel Burgers

 

English Translation:

 

Translated by Simoné de Witt

 

HALF PAD HUIS TOE: BEHIND THE CHARACTER

 

An explosion, a psychiatric institution, and a group of people with their own pain, trauma, and secrets. A tragicomedy production by Thalia Toneel—Halfpad Huis Toe (Halfway Home). 

 

After three years, Unicka Bothma still speaks with passion and love about Thalia. She is the example of what it means to be humble and yet still believe in yourself and follow your passion. She describes that in her first year she was part of the theatre, and in her second year, she was the marketing officer for Thalia. In her third year, she attained the position of chairperson. She is surrounded by friends who motivate and encourage her. In return, she leads with humility and love for Thalia and theatre. Bothma and her management team took the characters, shaped them, and wrote a play out of nothing.

 

The Colonel, played by Jason Brand, describes his experience as enjoyable. To truly immerse himself in the scene for a few hours and break away from reality can simply be described as enjoyable. Meyer advises the audience to drink a little sherry next time for the cold, which will help to laugh heartily and enjoy it more.

 

“Jump into the deep end and hope for the best,” says Hendro Strydom when he had to portray the role of an orphan. Strydom explains that the character was uncomfortable to depict at first. To better understand the character, he had to build a connection in order to portray the character correctly and effectively convey it to the audience. After the high point of the evening, he describes that his own hunger brought him closer to his character. Strydom shares that although the character went through difficult times, he did not want others to share in his hardships. The character’s sharp words and jokes were often the light in a dark tunnel for others.

 

Strydom explains that it can sometimes be challenging to keep track with 17 characters on stage, but in the end, each personality contributed to their character and the bigger picture. Strydom loves being on stage and portraying a character to the audience. During the day he studies IT (information technology), and at night the passionate artist comes out. The mix of passion, little sleep, and good time management is what Strydom strives for.

 

“If God has given you a talent, He will make room for it,” says Danelle Chereé Titus, and that is exactly what happened with both the characters and the production process. Titus, the talented Production Manager of Thalia Drama, explains that many of the students have a talent for portraying serious characters, but she wanted to give them the opportunity to perform in a drama and explore that aspect of theatre. She says she wishes people could truly see the heart behind the stage and understand how much blood, sweat, and tears go into a production. Her advice to young people pursuing theatre is to first establish yourself, but never let the passion you have for theatre die out.

 

Thalia dates back to 1951 in Greek mythology, where Thalia is the muse of comedy and idyllic poetry. Thalia Toneel celebrates its 80th anniversary this year and celebrates the achievement as the oldest arts association on campus.

 

Thalia Toneel is for everyone—students who have been doing theatre for years, students who have never done theatre before, students who want to be behind the scenes, and students with a love for theatre in another way. Thalia has a place for you!

 

Thalia Toneel: Half Pad Huis Toe management team, committee members and actors (Source: Elandri Olwage).

 

Thalia Toneel: Half Pad Huis Toe Production Actors (Source: Elandri Olwage).