Litnet

"And secondly, I keep asking this: why should anyone bother to read or come watch a play written by an unknown young man who lives in the outskirts of Cape Town, where everything is far from him and the city lights are supposedly fantasies? And who lives every day looking up hoping to see a billboard of a role model in the township, but only gets to see the walking, unsung heroes who once tried and failed, the many who sought stability and did everything right, yet still crashed?"

Ahead of Shorts: A festival of pocket operas at the Artscape Arena, Naomi Meyer spoke to composer Conrad Asman about his new work, Trial by media, which revolves around the media’s impact on the Oscar Pistorius trial: "Reeva’s voice has often been forgotten during various portrayals of this trial, and it is my hope to rectify this, while highlighting the effects of domestic violence present in this story."

"The best part of the residency is the uninterrupted time to write, in a heavenly location, and the inspiration one gets in such a historic place. The town is quiet, the views are calming; this is honestly the best place to write."

"Dis eintlik dikwels vir my lekkerder om fiksie te skryf as om noodwendig by die feite te bly – hoewel ek glo ook joernaliste kan outydse alchemiste wees wat onedel metale in goud kan verander."

"Midway through my second passion fruit and lemonade, I said that a region so rich in literary history deserves a literary festival of its own. To which David [Attwell] replied: 'Why don’t we do it?'"

"Dit is presies 10 jaar gelede in Maart 2014 dat Hennie Aucamp oorlede is, en ek reken dit is goed om sy skryfwerk nou met ’n produksie soos dié te vereer."

"Die illustreerder se visuele teks gee lewe aan woorde wat die jong kind nog nie alles verstaan nie, aan gebeure en emosies waarmee hulle nog kennis maak."

"Visuele taal, soos dié van illustrasie, word onderskei van gesproke of geskrewe taal, maar dit ontspring vanuit dieselfde bron en vervul dieselfde behoeftes as woordetaal."

"My gedagte was nie om kinders in townships te red nie. Hulle het as mense dit nie nodig om gered te word nie. Hulle beskik reeds oor al die potensiaal waaroor mense in beter omstandighede beskik. Baie mense in townships woon wel in omstandighede van geweld of stadige geweld … slow violence. My visie was my viool."

"Die passie, progressiewe denke en diversiteit het my uit die staanspoor opgeval. Daar was passievolle gesprekke rondom taalaanleerstrategieë en vertaalkunde; kwantum- en metateorieë is onder die loep geneem; ons het dieper gedelf in die temas van kwesbaarheid en broosheid; en het kuns as produk waargeneem."

"Growing up, I did not have books. People around me didn’t buy books, and libraries were far from where I lived in Soshanguve. .... I eventually went from not having books to writing them."

"Representation really matters. When you see yourself represented on film or in books, I feel that it sends the message that you are worthy and your stories are worthy of being told. You belong in this world. You are seen."

"Táál diskrimineer nie; ménse diskrimineer. Afrikaans is vir almal wat daarin praat en lees en luister en leef. Hier is nie plek vir mean girls nie!"

"Ek self is nie besitlik oor Afrikaans soos ek dit leer ken het nie. Omdat ’n sekere gestalte van Afrikaans my moedertaal is, het dit ongetwyfeld my psige, my uitkyk op myself en die res van die wêreld gevorm en my gevoelslewe getoonset. Waarom sal ek daardie gegewe wil ontneem van iemand vir wie Afrikaans ’n ander gestalte aanneem?"

"Acknowledging the work of independent theatre makers at awards events like the one in Tembisa is important. Firstly, it validates their contributions to the cultural landscape, recognising their creativity and talent. Secondly, it provides them with exposure and opportunities for networking, funding and future collaborations. Additionally, celebrating independent theatre helps to diversify the arts scene, ensuring that a variety of voices and perspectives are heard and appreciated."