In January 2024, Bianca Amato and Kensiwe Tshabalala united to bring their international training, experience and passion for the theatre together to form The Quickening Theatre Company.
The Quickening Theatre Company is dedicated to producing both local and global contemporary plays that have meaning and relevance for South Africans, as well as to revitalizing Shakespeare and other classical playwrights in productions that resonate with us all and reflect the here and now.
The Quickening is devoted to the power of language and is committed to rigorous investigation of text, and to the search for truth, clarity and specificity in our work.
The Quickening is intent on exceptional theatrical execution, seeking to constantly hone, refine and develop our craft, while always mining for bold and fresh perspectives.
The Quickening is committed to diversity in storytelling, in casting and in audiences, and seeks to ensure fair work practices and a living wage for all our practitioners.
The Quickening aims to provide a creative home for practitioners and audiences alike, fostering excellence in our artists, strengthening our community, and building our audiences. Our incubators – named Classical, Craft, Cultivation, and Community – are in place to nurture artists and develop projects from inception to production, and we look forward to synergy and symbiosis between each initiative.
Our Incubators:
Classical: The Quickening is engaged in exploring fresh and vital interpretations of classical texts for South African audiences. In 2024 we are focusing on SheShakesHerSpeare – investigating and re-imagining selected plays with a group of female actors, and mining text, story and context from a female point of view.
Craft: The Quickening hosts an ongoing artist’s gym in Johannesburg, where professionals are invited to share their work and hone their craft. This work out session is for actors, writers and directors who are interested in exploration, feedback, practice and play.
“I am excited to curate a culture of continuous practice and craftsmanship for professional actors and artists looking for a space to share their work and gain feedback and self-enrichment. This is a space where each individual has the opportunity to play and put establishing work on its feet in front of a knowledgeable audience of fellow professionals.”
Kensiwe Tshabalala
Cultivation: The Quickening will commission and facilitate the writing and producing of South African plays. We will be inviting playwrights to submit work and hosting readings/workshops to support the development of plays.
Community: The Quickening is associated with The Actor’s Aptitude, and together we are dedicated to fostering connection and a sense of belonging within our artistic community. We will be involved in a number of initiatives and opportunities for theatre practitioners to meet, engage with and support each other.