The word ‘Admission’ can mean many things. It could be a space that you’re welcomed into. Or one that you’re denied access to. An admission can be a secret that you never thought you’d say aloud. Or a fact that you’ve been repeating for years.

The CityVarsity Acting Department explores this word in Admission, a new showcase of solo-shows. In this series of mini-productions, each show is written, directed, performed, and produced by a third year BA student. 'Admission' deals with a variety of important topics, moving from issues like cultural identity to mental health to how to make perfect two-minute noodles.

Equal parts brutally honest, hilarious and heart-breaking, 'Admission' tells complicated stories about what it really means to admit the truth.

'Admission' is separated into four programs.

Program North: 22 August 14.00 and 23 August 19.00

Token by Tsakani Baloyi
Token is the story of a boy living in post-Apartheid South Africa. Born in 1995 and raised in a Shangaan background, he later faces the difficulties of being one of the few black students at a predominantly white school. When he begins to excel at sport, the boy has to decide what the cost of being seen as a ‘token’ really is.

The Theory of Adulting by Matthew Davies
This is the story of a millennial who is about to complete his studies and enter the big and not-so-nice world. The Theory of Adulting deals with the hardships and heartbreaks that students face dealing with the day-to-day challenges of just getting by. This funny and relatable show asks what it means to suddenly be an adult when you still feel like a kid.

Tussenstasies by Megan Maclachlan
Need a job? Want a job? Want to make yourself proud? Want to make your parents proud? These are all questions running through Carissa’s mind as she is on the verge of finishing her studies and stepping into the working world. Tussenstasies is about what comes after you received your qualification and have to use it as a ticket to get a job. The one act play deals with the crossroads between family forcing you to make a decision about your future and you waiting to see where you’ll end up.

Loveday’s Lovesick by Anja Taljaard
It’s quite simple, really. Loveday, a girl with an average IQ and an over-average amount of insecurities, finds herself trapped inside a situation of her own making. The show follows her as she constructs a self-destructive collection dedicated to all of the men who loved her but who she could never love back. Until he come along. Suddenly, Loveday begins to experience new feelings. Could she be…lovesick?

Program South: 22 August 15.15 and 23 August 20.15

Semicolon by Elize Hattingh
“Imagine your life to be equal to a sentence, with you being a punctuation mark. What is your sentence? What kind of punctuation mark are you?” Semicolon deals with the character’s struggle to accept the loss of her mother and the emotional and psychological as well as physical challenges that comes along with grief. Inspired by the Semicolon Movement, this Afrikaans/English show might cut where it hurts.

The Carnalval by Olivia Jannesson
The dreaded and elusive female orgasm comes to life in this awkwardly dark and comedic show, bound to have you laughing in all the wrong places. Guided by a crude Ringmaster through the circus we call life, a woman shares a few confessions of embarrassing sexual experiences, with cringe-worthy insights that may or not be accompanied by a tiny stringed instrument.

University of Life by Rhulani Mnisi
"Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." Dealing with education and what it stands for in black culture, University of Life explores family matters and everything that comes with it. In a world where so much expectation is placed on students, this show reminds us that life in itself is a university you can never graduate from.

Ntombikanina by Anelisiwe Mpulu
Ntombikanina, named after its protagonist, is a story of a woman searching for her true identity, one she believes culture has robbed from her. Trying to find answers, she vacillates between asking the ancestors and the Bible for guidance. This show explores African culture, tradition and customs, particularly those of the Xhose/Mpondo people in the Eastern Cape.

Program East: 22 August 19.00 and 23 August 14.00

No Name Brand By Cleo Carelse
“How do I look?” is a question we all ask ourselves. In No Name Brand four womxn share their experiences of trying to live up to society’s impossible beauty standards and coming to terms with themselves. Branded by the expectations of family, friends, and social media, the show explores what it means to try to be perfect. Are we doing ourselves more harm than good?

#TakeMeBack by Greg Davies
Life, Hope, Love. Photos capture the emotions of that time. When we look at these memories years later, we can remember that feeling again. But can something else be sparked from that feeling as well? Something deeper, something unexpected?

Sondag by Jadene Hartley
Sondag is 'n een-man-spel wat handel om die tema van "Konserwatisme as Lewensbeskouing". Dit volg die karakter Sondag en haar interpretasies van verskillende gesprekke wat sy met verskeie famililede oor die jare gehad het. Hierdie gesprekke dryf haar om na haar hunkering na liberasie te streef met in die tradisionele Afrikaanse kultuur.

Bath Time by Jade Herbert
Bath Time looks at coloured identity and the many aspects and issues that come with this specific racial classification. Following the character through different parts of her life, the play illustrates how familial upbringing, friendships, and South African society's views on coloured culture affect the identity of one girl.

Program West: 22 August 20.15 and 23 August 15.15 

Stretchmark by Jaimie Davids
Self-love and self-acceptance. Two words that are simple to say but difficult to experience. Stretchmark  follows a womxn through her journey with her body,  moving from transformation to fat-shaming to body positivity. Wrapped up and sealed in name calling, judgement from family and friends, and societal expectations, this character is determined to break free from the confines of what other people think and step into her own love of self.

Induku By Ayabonga Makanya
Eliqonga lithetha ngonyana olahlekelwe yimvelaphi yakhe, olahlekelewe kukuzazi kwaye nokuzingca njengomXhosa okanye njengomSwati. Chopha ke mbukeli, sihlinze nanku umba.
 Ukuzingca ngobudoda ungayihloniphi imiqathango kukudelela isiXhosa. Ngoku ndinilungiselela into ebenicinga niyayazi, ilizwi ebenicinga livangeliwe. Ngokwenene kutshiwo kwathiwa mayizimele indoda, mayingajiki indoda. Kona kona ikwenzile ngemiqathango yakwaXhosa? Eh! Sinokhe sithandabuze.
Camagu kwimfundiso yakwaXhosa, camagu kwisiko nezithethe. 

Little Fish by Roxy Modricky
Little Fish combines poetry and projections to explore the inner psychological world of a young woman. Little Fish is a coming-of-age story about a character choosing to live and delve into the treacherous waters of adulthood while dealing with her own murky past.

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Directing mentors:
Lynita Crofford, Iman Isaacs, Sanjin Muftic, and Genna Gardini

Marketing mentor:
Sanjin Muftic

Writing mentor:
Genna Gardini

Audience Responses

Oops ... forgot to rate ... lol !!

I thoroughly enjoyed myself.I could laugh, have a bit of nostalgia, empathize and experience so many emotions and feelings all in one place. Keep up the excellent work 3rd yr CityVarsity students. Continue to make us and SA proud !!

Great performances, excellent vibe and location!

Was really good, enjoyed myself and there was no hassle at all.

We thought the individual shows were excellent. However, as we do not speak Afrikaans, the first show was lost on us, Sondag, I noticed that the description of the show in the program as well as another show in Xhosa Induku, were written in their home language. It would have been helpful if the write up about each play had been in English so that we could have at least understood the theme of each play. Sadly we understood nothing.

Compliments to your staff they were amazing.

The best thing I've ever seen, very emotional and relatable. The Audience couldn't help but connect with the performer which led to make people react that way. Induku by Ayabonga Makanya was the greatest show it shifted the atmosphere of the room and made people check themselves when it comes to judging the other person negatively, the damage they are doing goes deeper and Ayabonga Makanya expressed that in a way that can't be defined by words but to give him a standing ovation.