'Madness': Songs of Hope at Cape Town's Baxter Centre

Following its acclaimed success at the World Psychiatry International Congress and its once-off staging in December last year, Madness: Songs of Hope and Despair returns at the Baxter Theatre with two Sunday performances at 6pm.

Baumann’s words are brought to life through music composed by Galina Juritz with renowned music artist and cultural historian Dizu Plaatjies, conducted by Chad Hendricks and directed by Lara Foot. Fiona Moodie integrates her artworks with by patients at Valkenberg Hospital, with video design by Koeka Stander and lighting design by Patrick Curtis.

The story involves a brilliant young student who moves from rural Eastern Cape to the city to study architecture. With his mother struggling to provide for him, he perseveres, falls in love and flourishes but shortly after graduating, something changes. He loses all perception and descends into a harrowing state of psychosis, tormented by voices telling him he is mad.

Mental illness and psychotic experiences are brought into the spotlight using a combination of rousing music (both live and some recorded), song and striking visual imagery in an attempt to portray the complexities and also the wonder of these strange and ultimately unknowable worlds.

The project arose from a concern that the plight of the seriously mentally ill is either ignored or profoundly misunderstood, and that this contributes significantly to the suffering of those deemed insane.

The nine-member vocal ensemble comprise sopranos Linda Nteleza, Palesa Portia Malieloa, altos Nolubabalo Babalwa Mdayi, Fikile Mthetwa, tenors Monwabisi Lindi, Vuyisa Jack and Siphesihle Mdena and basses Lungile Halam and Ebenezer Sawuli Madoda.

 The small orchestra is made up of musicians Matthijs van Dijk and Galina Juritz (violins), Sarah Evans/Asra Isaacs (viola), Luke Otto/Robert Jeffery (cello), Graham H Strickland (upright bass), Gene Kierman (French horn) and Zeke Le Grange on saxophone.

 Baumann, a senior specialist psychiatrist in the department of psychiatry and mental health at University of Cape Town and a consultant at Valkenberg Hospital had this to say, “Scientific accounts of madness or psychotic experiences tend to be inadequate and impoverished by a limited objective perspective. Literary and other artistic portrayals of psychosis too often lack authenticity, treating madness as a metaphor for personal and social ills.”

There is an age restriction of 14 years. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Cape Mental Health and Friends of Valkenberg.

 Tickets cost R150 and booking is through Computicket on +278619158000, online at Computicket website or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. Early birds can pay R100 for bookings made before 31 January.