In April of 2015, students from the University of Cape Town protested against injustice and imperialism through a revolt against the statue of colonialist Cecil Rhodes at the foot of their university’s famous Jameson Steps. Birthing the #RhodesMustFall movement, the revolution sparked global attention and a conversation in South Africa regarding the institutional racism that dominates student life in the community. Successfully bringing down the statue, the student’s goals led to a wider movement to decolonise education across South Africa. For seven postgraduate students, the place to unpack issues involving race, class, gender, sexism, colonialism and ideologies of patriarchy was the stage. This lead to them creating the show The Fall.
Coming from a critically acclaimed season at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, having received two top awards and numerous five-star reviews, The Fall makes its Australian debut in the Fairfax Theatre from August 28 to September 2 for six shows as part of Art Centre Melbourne’s Big World, Up Close series ‘showcasing the most compelling new works from across the globe’ with pieces from Africa to the Middle East and Australia’s own shores. Told through personal accounts of the events by the cast/writers Ameera Conrad, Oarabile Ditsele, Kgomotso Khunoane, Tankiso Mamabolo, Thando Mangcu, Sizwesandile Mnisi, Sihle Mnqwazana and Cleo Raatus, The Fall seeks to confront discrimination in all its forms in a stunning piece of documentary political theatre led by a powerful young ensemble of creatives who have seen firsthand the power of speaking out.
Arts Centre Melbourne presents The Baxter Theatre Centre at the University of Cape Town The Fall
August 28-September 2 2018
Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Theatre
Tuesday 28 August – Saturday 1 September, 7:30pm
Sunday 2 September, 5pm
Duration: 80 minutes, no interval
Bookings: https://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au and 1300 182 183
