The Clifton Arts Festival made its bow on the last Tuesday of the second term – Clifton traditionally ends the term with a celebration of the arts – with Cara Roberts starring in the multi-award-winning play, The King of Broken Things, in the Sutcliffe Theatre.
Written by Mike Broderick-Taylor, The King of Broken Things follows a young broken-hearted boy who is dealing with the heartache of an absent father whom he hero-worships.
However, the boy insists that everything that is broken can be fixed, things seen and unseen, including promises and items others regard as beyond repair. Most importantly, he believes that people can be fixed, too.
The play, which lasts 45 minutes, has been around since 2018, and the fact that it is still going strong speaks to the manner in which it resonates with the audience, reflecting on what it means to be different, issues of abandonment, and finding strength and meaning in fixing that which seems broken.
I, however, am not going to spend much more time on the play beyond to add that it is outstanding and will likely lead to some moments of introspection and identification with the character played by Cara Roberts, who is superb in her solo role.
Much has been written about The King of Broken Things and by others better able to do it justice than I am. I would say only, if you haven’t seen it, please do.
I would, though, like to reflect on the Clifton Arts Festival, the people that make it happen, and the invaluable impact of the arts at Clifton and schools with a similar ethos.
The idea to write about that came to me at the official opening of the four days of fun. Seeing Shaun McCabe and Wendy Meyer standing up front – Shaun, who perpetually looks as if he has something to do; Wendy, as always, with a smile on her face – one saw the beating heart of the arts at Clifton, teachers who are dedicated to the arts that they love so much and rewarded by being able to share their knowledge and passion with their charges.
Together, the duo has spent 15 years promoting the arts at Clifton. Previously known as Cultural Daze, the Clifton Arts Festival “always has been and, hopefully, will continue to be the highlight of our arts calendar,” McCabe said at the launch.
At the end of 2024, he and Wendy Meyer assessed Cultural Daze, determined that it needed a refresh and an update and the Clifton Arts Festival was born. As McCabe explained: “Not as competition to any other festival, but as a complement.
“In this country, the arts are hugely underfunded, nationally and regionally, so for arts festivals to be seen as competitive is counterintuitive and doesn’t benefit anybody.
“A few weeks ago, we had the 031 Festival at the Seabrooke Theatre [at Durban High School] and in a few weeks’ time we have the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, and a few weeks after that the Hilton Arts Festival. It’s all meant to be complementary and celebratory.”
McCabe is dedicated to sharing experiences with the boys of Clifton, on the stage, and in life, through performing and through travel and exploring different people and cultures. That is enriching.
It opens boys up to possibilities that don’t exist in the rather more delineated spheres of academics and sport. And it extends beyond the boundaries of Clifton’s school grounds. That’s a substantial education.
Wendy Meyer seems to draw energy from being a part of the arts. That’s an inspiring trait that, in turn, energises the boys and welcomes them to be a part of Clifton’s vibrant arts and culture scene. Clearly, too, she is very good at what she does. Her focus is not narrow. It’s wide, inviting, and inclusive.
As Shelley Maclean Downham, Clifton’s Director of Music, recently said, in a discussion about the arts and music at the school: “If any school is saying, from an educational perspective, that they’re looking at the whole child, and their overall development, and they are not investing in the artistic side of things, I’m ready to lead a riot.” That’s passion!
Academic achievement can take one far in life. It’s possible, too, that sporting achievements can result in great rewards. And yet, life is somewhat two-dimensional when the arts are not also incorporated.
Take a look at Lucas Peria, now in grade 12, who stole the spotlight with his villainous turn in Everyman, which the school put on in March 2024. It was hard to take one’s eyes off of him.
Since then, I’ve seen him singing, making speeches, and shining in that spotlight, a boy whose inner light burns brightly when given the opportunity to escape the routine and the mundane, when allowed to express himself and leave the staid world behind. He demonstrates the value of the arts, and he is not alone.
On Thursday evening, at the Concert on the Lawns, in front of Founders House – the event that concluded the Clifton Arts Festival before the holidays started on Friday – Peria was again to the fore in the Clifton College Band, where he was joined by Narottam Moonilal, Huven Moodley, Juanathan Munthree, and Satya Munthree.
Peria delivered rich entertainment while clearly relishing the opportunity to get up on stage again. His excellence was also matched by that of his fellow band members. They were good, not just for schoolboys, but for any musical performers. Their performance of The Eagles‘ Hotel California was a true highlight, and the crowd showed their appreciation.
As a group, they were hugely impressive: assured, expressive, and loving and embracing their opportunity.
Clifton’s Music Department is filled with talented young men, playing a wide variety of instruments, some of whom may be wallflowers in the classroom or on the sports field, but unforgettable when performing – like Dante Pillay, whose instrument is his voice. He has sung solo with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra.
At the same time that it provides a stage for Clifton’s talented musicians to perform, the annual Concert on the Lawns is a special, uniting occasion. It brings together boys and their families. Whether a boy is in the Prep or the College, grade one or grade 12, it doesn’t matter. There are no obstacles that separate them when the Concert on the Lawns takes place.
A square, next to the Ken Mackenzie Hall, which reminded me of a long-ago memory of Greenmarket Square, in Cape Town, at night (see feature photo), was filled with lights in trees, which created a wonderful multi-coloured vibe as people milled about and grabbed something to eat, zeroing in on the delicious aromas that filled the air from an inviting variety of vendors.
Inside the Ken Mckenzie Hall, an Art Fair drew visitors to browse the stalls and, perhaps, pick up a tantalising item. In the foyer, artists displayed their paintings, portraits, and sculptures. The talent on display was enviable.
And all the while, music permeated the air – familiar songs, which added to the festive feeling. Exams were done. The holiday was imminent. It was time to melt into the warm embrace of a family occasion that offered a little something for everyone.
That’s how one finishes a very busy term, loaded with exams and interschools derby days! It’s a blueprint that others, hopefully, adopt, too, and further enhance arts and culture in schools.
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