The Children's Monologues.

On Sunday, November 14th, in the lead-up to World Aids Day 2010, 15 extraordinary actors, several award-winning writers and one super-star director came together to present a unique theatrical event in celebration of  the work of Dramatic Need and raise money for the Pete Patsa Arts Centre. Writers including Pulitzer prize winner Lynn Nottage (Ruined), Olivier Award-winning Bola Agbaje (Gone Too Far), Polly Stenham (That Face) and Roy Williams OBE (Sucker Punch) adapted 12 powerful monologues from original testimonies written by the children Dramatic Need works with in South Africa. These were performed by renowned actors at the prestigious Old Vic Theatre in London and simultaneously in rural South Africa by the children themselves.

The actors:
Actors included: Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Schindler's List, Sexy Beast), Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace, Clash of the Titans, Prince of Persia, Tamara Drewe), Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock Holmes), Tom Hiddleston (Spielberg's War Horse,Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, Kenneth Branagh's Thor), Eddie Redmayne (The Other Boylen Girl, Elizabeth, The Good Shepherd, Red [Olivier Award – Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Tony Award – Best Performance by a Featured Actor in Play]),  Nonso Anozie (Othello,Death and the King’s Horseman, The Golden Compass), Jenny Jules (Ruined, Fabulation, Kavanagh QC), Lucian Msamati (The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Pericles), Nikki Amuka-Bird (Small Island, Survivors), Rose Byrne (Sunshine, Troy, Get Him to the Greek), Kerry Fox (Shallow Grave, Angel at my Table), Charlie Cox (Prince of Homburg, Glorious 39, Stardust), Wunmi Mosaku (I am Slave, Father and Son, Moses Jones), Hattie Morahan (Money, The Golden Compass, Outnumbered) and Olivia Grant (Mr. Nice, Women in Love).

The music:
Arranged by Paul Gladstone-Reid MBE for the event, drawing original recordings of the children reading their stories in Sesotho and Tswana into the score. A youth choir also performed on the night.

The writers:
Writers involved include Lynn Nottage (winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for drama for Ruined, Bola Agbaje(Olivier Award winning writer of Gone Too Far at the Royal Court), Polly Stenham(Olivier Award for That Face), Dennis Kelly (Pulling), Gabriel Bisset-Smith (Thrush), Oladipo Agboluaje (God is a DJ, The Estate) and Roy Williams OBE (BAFTA and Olivier award-winning writer of Sucker Punch).

The stories:
The Children’s Monologues soliloquize young people – some still small children – grappling in their own words with the most appalling truths, while others share cherished moments of rare and short-lived happiness.

This performance was for one-night only, a unique chance to see the collaborative efforts of this remarkable creative team.

Videos:

Children's Monologues, London

Children's Monologues, South Africa