CityVarsity hosts the inaugural 3rd year Degree Solo Project festival. The 7 Obsessions is an original programme, crafted by CityVarsity’s senior Acting students, which challenges them to write, direct, produce and perform their own solo theatrical pieces.  Encompassing multiple cultures, languages and social perspectives, each of the seven pieces grapples with a range of issues relevant to South African youth. The subject matter of the pieces ranges from pop culture to concealing depression and distress. Audiences will be entertained throughout the evening as the soon-to-be professional actors and artists reveal their obsessions. The CityVarsity Acting Department Degree students are trained in both live and camera performance as well as the writing of scripts, directing, devising and marketing of productions. The performances are multidisciplinary, incorporating of dance, poetry, spoken word, music and visual media. With guidance from their lecturers Genna Gardini, Jayne Batzofin and Sanjin Muftic, the students are eager to seize this opportunity and put their years of learning to work on stage in The 7 Obsessions.  


Shows include Unnatural Animals by David Traub (One young man’s frustration as he struggles against his human nature); T(ill) Y(ou) D(ie) by Dan-Marie Viljoen (A girl tries to escape the spell no one can seem to get away from, and if you do, it will be too late); Bedtime Stories by Annemie Jordan (A girl is possessed by her favourite fantasy monsters, who are desperate to tell their side of the story); Bitten by Lobcke Hein (A young girl's obsession with vampire fandom leads to an unhealthy obsession with creatures of the night); Truth Be Told by Genna Blair (Follow one woman in this moment by moment account of living with depression and desperately trying to hide it); Punk is Not Dead and Neither Am I by Lizelle Bernardo (A journey from childhood to adulthood in the life of a girl who has always relied on punk rock music to be there for her and see her through tough times); i: by Inez Robertson (A young woman takes a deeper look at herself through the eyes of the person she wants the world to see her as in this exploration of self-image).

Audience Responses

Excellant show!

Firstly let me say that I thought that all of the acting was very good. The pieces, while being well written, didn't all take the importance of entertainment into account. I found that some pieces were a little too indulgent and failed to capture. This however, probably has more to do with inexperience than anything else and judging by the overall quality of the pieces, will I'm sure, work itself out in future pieces. Well done to everyone. Nicholas and Edward, I absolutely loved your spot...... Sorry it has taken so long to get there. I am going to make a concerted effort to make time to bring Marika. I'm sure she will love it too. :)

Truely an amazing experience like no other. Thank you performers cast and crew as well as Alexander Bar for the experience.

Excellant show!