{"id":3039,"date":"2022-02-13T11:54:17","date_gmt":"2022-02-13T09:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/?p=3039"},"modified":"2022-02-13T11:54:25","modified_gmt":"2022-02-13T09:54:25","slug":"marinda-engelbrecht-brings-theatre-and-food-to-the-children-of-africa-and-the-middle-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/articles\/marinda-engelbrecht-brings-theatre-and-food-to-the-children-of-africa-and-the-middle-east\/","title":{"rendered":"Marinda Engelbrecht brings theatre and food to the children of Africa and the Middle East"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Marinda is known as a stage director but is also a qualified teacher, chef and student of the drama icon, Babs Sluiter. She describes the inner-peace she achieved between her chefs training and her love for theatre-craft like this\u2026. \u201cGood theatre nurtures the soul and good food nurtures the body.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marinda is the co-creator and stage director of Children\u2019s Theatre<\/strong><\/em> with Margit Meyer. She is the author of the educational cookbook for children Kinder Kombuis<\/strong><\/em> and Marinda se Koskas<\/strong><\/em>.<\/em> Marinda was also a TV presenter on DSTV of her own series Maklik met<\/strong><\/em>Marinda<\/strong><\/em>and co-presenter of Laat Die Potte Prut<\/strong><\/em>. She became famous as a finalist in the first Kokkedoor<\/strong><\/em> reality series in 2013. Marinda also stars in Marion Holm\u2019s Afrikaans Food theatre production Voorskoot.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Middle East Connection<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn Arabic businessman contacted us to bring our children\u2019s theatre to Doha. It was part of an international reading series,\u201d but Marinda was reluctant at first as the culture was foreign and she did not know the man. It was a massive leap of faith as she had to take responsibility for the entire cast as well as the production and unforeseen financial pitfalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We never looked back since. The Arab people in Qatar are extremely generous, friendly and go out of their way to make the entire cast feel welcome. They booked our tickets, put us up in hotels and set us up in the most advanced theatres in Doha. It was a pleasure to work with these beautiful people. We learned so much about the culture and are all the richer for it. After we did our first performance in Doha, our sponsor asked if we could bring more of the Children\u2019s Theatre<\/strong><\/em> productions to them. It was the greatest of honour to present almost all the classic fairy tales like Rapunzel<\/strong><\/em>, Jack and the Beanstalk<\/strong><\/em>, Peter Pan<\/strong><\/em> and Alice in Wonderland<\/strong><\/em>, to name a few\u2026. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Marinda the theatres in Doha are impressively equipped with the best technology and lightning and Marinda and Margit were blown away with their professionalism, love for art and the lengths they would go to in educating the children residing in their country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduced over 700,000 children to theatre\u2026 and aiming for more!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years Marinda and Margit have introduced over 700 000 children to the theatre \u2013 it\u2019s what they live for! They write all the music and scripts together and share the same goal: to get children away from the TV. \u201cIntroducing children to the theatre helps them cultivate their creativity and combats being \u201cvirtually\u201d interactive – as children are now accustomed to being thanks to cell phones and computer games. It teaches children the declining experience of being present socially and physically inter-active,\u201d says Marinda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Children are highly intelligent and perceptive. You cannot present a child with a mediocre production. They want the light- camera-action plus the excitement that goes with technology and drama. Finding the sweet spot though is always a challenge. After 20 years Margit and I are still moved to tears when our audience gasp, laugh or cheer with excitement.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n