‘Jive Culture Shock’ to feature the Kaapse Klopse and Malay choirs

The competition is quite different in 2020. Image supplied

South African singer-songwriter, actor and entertainer Loukmaan Adams collaborates with Oddball Concepts to bring audiences the uniquely Capetonian production The Jive Culture Shock: Jingles and Karinkles online.

According to Adams, the Jive Culture Shock takes a deeper and closer look at what happens in the cultural sector by shining a positive light on what the participants are capable of.

The episodes include story inserts, guest judges, viewer videos and a surprise international element.

A LOUKMAAN ADAMS AND ODDBALL COLLABORATION

Audiences can expect to be dazzled with Adams who has brought over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry to the collaboration. Oddball Concepts has been actively involved in curating cultural experiences across South Africa for the last nine years.

“Oddball Concepts launched their first-ever musical production in 2013 and I was the technical director and a lead performer in that showcase,” said Adams.

Since then, according to Adams, Oddball Concepts has become one of the most innovative small businesses in the community performing arts development industry.

THE JIVE CULTURE SHOCK COMPETITION CONCEPT

The competition idea arose from the realisation that cultural expression platforms in Cape Town, such as the Kaapse Klopse (a minstrel festival that takes place annually on 2 January) and Malay choir competitions, would be affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The concept was aimed at allowing a global audience access to a new and innovative way that these two cultural expressions can be morphed into one showcase.

“In doing this we also realised that this could potentially be an intriguing way to keep the local enthusiasts engaged and culturally entertained too,” Adams said.

The concept seeks to provide opportunities for young and old cultural performers to exercise their love for singing and dancing, while allowing them access to a world-class stage — such as the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town.

“This presents them with the opportunity to not only perform for a Capetonian audience, but to become accessible to the entire globe through film and video technology,” Adams said.

WORKING IN THEATRE WITH THE ‘NEW NORMAL’

During the production process, both Adams and the Oddball team faced the music when they realised that the “old normal” was a thing of the past.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, they were accustomed to doing theatre and performance art in a certain way — one which would not be in line with today’s COVID-19 protocols.

“Mechanisms to ensure safe distancing, clean and safe equipment and a space big enough to host a 10-piece band and a 15-person choir were also new to the production process,” Adams said.

In the conceptualisation and planning phase, the use of virtual meetings and rehearsals for the band were introduced.

“Culture Shock as a platform also needed to invest in PPE for each participating team, as we felt that the health and wellbeing of all participants and their immediate families were partly our responsibility as platform creators,” Adams said.

ADAPTING AND RE-IMAGINING THEATRE PERFORMANCES

As a response to the coronavirus pandemic, the competition is pre-recorded, curated into a two-hour-long show and played out live on Saturdays at 20:00. The online screening has already commenced on 26 September and will run until 24 October.

“The idea initially was to be live, but the regulations around amounts of people in one space and the time limitations on resources forced us to pre-record the episodes and the grand finale,” Adams said.

The first three episodes are designed to be a head-to-head competition between two teams. The categories are: Nederlandse Liedjie, Afrikaanse Moppie, Junior Solo and English Comic.

The competition judges include South African music artists and performers, such as Armien Vardien, Omar Adams, Terry Fortune, Emo Adams, Sheecas Closet, Marc Lottering, David Kramer, and Sophia Foster.

A CULTURAL COMPETITION WITH A CAUSE

The platform has also set up a donation drive during each episode to raise funds for the Red Cross Children’s Hospital Trust in support of the upgrade and expansion of its emergency centre.

Adams urges audiences to pledge toward this worthy cause, as every cent counts toward their target of R5 million.

Tickets available at Quicket.