The latest edition of 'Tea With The Tali' by Kenilworth's Talisman Theatre has shown the group's commitment to a new diversity policy

Of all that came from 2020, one of the few positives was a global resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, and a recognition in all walks of life that greater effort needs to be given to cementing equality.

In light of this, a group of local actors approached the Talisman Theatre and other local organisations about the issue of diversity. Keen to respond, the Talisman wrote a new Diversity Statement and Action Plan, including a commitment to produce plays with more diverse appeal.

Speaking to Kenilworth Nub News Joint Artistic Director, and co-writer of the Talisman's Action Plan, Steve Smith said: "although The Talisman has an honourable tradition in mounting plays and musicals on gay themes, and members were instrumental in forming Side by Side, a theatre company for both disabled and non-disabled performers, the racial profile of our audience and roster of actors and technical staff is very white.

"One of our actions is to mount productions which will appeal to a more diverse audience."

Diversity has long been at the heart of the Talisman. The amateur group have staged a number of productions covering issues surrounding sexuality, as Steve mentioned.

Going back to 1970 the group staged Noel Cowards 'Song at Twilight' which tells the story of writer Hugo Latymer and the exposure of his homosexuality.

Since then, the Talisman has hosted a number of productions which discuss similar themes, including a staging of The Zellnik brother's musical 'Yank!' in 2019.

However, the theatre continues to wish to expand its inclusivity and its scope. Their new action plan, and today's release are the first steps to doing this.

The statement sets out a six-point strategy to expand the limits of the theatre by developing their advertising for potential actors and writers, ensuring that casting is only done on merit, and purposefully selecting productions which will appeal to a diverse cast and audience.

Steve said: "This is a very exciting development for us and we see it as a down payment on our intention to reach out to a much more diverse range of communities.

"We would also be very interested in hearing from black writers and groups who would like to collaborate with us in this venture."

With this in mind, Steve contacted The African Women Playwright Network (AWPN) and asked if any of their members had a suitable play or short story they would like to see produced on the theatre's YouTube channel.

The AWPN was formed in 2015 at the Women Playwrights International Conference (WPIC) in Cape Town with Dr Yvette Hutchison of University of Warwick as project lead.

Five years on the AWPN is now a network of 300 female African creatives spanning 22 countries.

The steering committee of Philisiwe Twijnstra, Neo Kibiditse and Tosin Tume with Yvette Hutchison work to promote the work of African, female playwrights by creating links between writers, and raising awareness to programmers and audiences alike.

Young South African playwright, Philisiwe offered her intriguing story 'Little Black Sandals' to the Talisman, read by South African actress Haseena Hans it forms the basis of the most recent Tea With The Tali production.

Little Black Sandals, which was nominated for a Short Sharp Stories Award in 2017, draws on Philisiwe's experiences of growing up in townships.

The story develops her own interpretation of the South African shebeens – township pubs which are often run by women – a topic which is considered a trope for South African female writers. She follows the young Keketso and her relationship with Nkgono Penny, her Grandma and her surprising mother, Mme Rose.

Speaking to Kenilworth Nub News Philisiwe said: "I have read so many stories about Johannesburg being the city that holds our dreams but often these characters were woman characters who end up being victims or dying.

"I like writing flawed, dark yet strong characters, for Little Black Sandals I was inspired by young girls who are raised by their grandmothers, young girls who are orphans, young girls who are surviving the streets but also the trope that Johannesburg is the city to be in.

"I wanted to highlight the misfit of that connotation, when I wrote 'Little Black Sandals, I thought about childhood memories how we take that for granted and how we judge where we come from but turns out to be the last only memory that makes us human."

Philiswe's contribution does not just stop at the original text however, the music played out at the end of the production was written and performed by her under her performing name Zulu Blue.

The interpretation of her story by the Talisman Theatre can be seen embedded at the top of this page.