March 24, 2005
By Ndaba Dlamini
THE CHEQUERED past of the Drill Hall was explored in an exhibition, "Preview", on Wednesday, 16 March, that included theatre pieces, poetry, video and shadow puppet performances.
"Preview" touched on the 100-year-old "script" of the hall as part of the drive by the Joubert Park Project (JPP) to introduce it to a larger audience. Dorothee Kreutzfeldt, a member of the JPP, says it was the first of a series of events to be staged at the hall in its latest incarnation as a heritage site and cultural laboratory.
"The main motivation was to invite artists to engage the space, to showcase their responses and interpretations. It was also about wanting to preview what we envision in terms of exhibitions, events and happenings. And to say that whoever is interested in making use of the Drill Hall precinct and the Point Blank Gallery can contact us."
JJP, an independent non-profit initiative that runs the cultural programme at the Drill Hall, presented the event, which was sponsored by the National Arts Council and supported by the City and the Gauteng department of sports, recreation, arts and culture.
Unfortunately, because of the cold rain on the night, some of the "Preview" installations had to be moved from the open square and others could not be put on. The Drill Hall was built on the ruins of a native prison in 1904 and once housed gala functions and balls. In 1956 it became a courtroom for the Treason Trial. Then it was a sports venue for young cadets and hid live artillery shells for more than 50 years.
Abandoned by the military in the early 1990s, it was invaded by squatters and gutted by two fires. Today the Drill Hall is an enclave, in the midst of Joubert Park's densely populated neighbourhoods, next to the Fashion District and the Noord Street Taxi Rank.
The exhibition began on an energetic note with "Skip" by Takalani Kwinda, Theo Modise and Kenneth Masekwane. It referred to the hall's use as a gym by young cadets during its days as a military base. There were shadow puppet performances by Usha Seerjarim, Stompie Selibe, Theresa Mkhabela, Annacletta Mngoma, Kamogelo Manamela and pupils from Centurion College.
A short video, "Treason Trial", was screened. Filmed during the 1956 Treason Trial, the film transported the audience back to the politically turbulent times of the 1950s. "You could recognise the inside of the building, people moving about, judges, Mandela and other trialists queuing for food," Kreutzfeldt says.
Opposite the hall, painted on the Noord Street Taxi Rank wall, is a poem by Mpho Molikeng and signwritten by Jabu Tshuma. "The poem is permanently written on the taxi rank, facing the Drill Hall. It 'occupies' the space, speaking about what has been there before, speaking about what brings people to this place," Kreutzfeldt explains.
"The event was a success even though it rained and we could not do all that had been planned. The participants were incredibly motivated and enthusiastic; they improvised and made it happen."
"Preview" will be on from 29 March to 30 April. Contact the Joubert Park Project on 011 333 1112 or 083 956 0507 or email jppap@worldonline.co.za
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
