It all began with a tree, a trapeze bar, a rusty old truck and two trapeze artists with a dream. At a time when many people were fleeing South Africa for fear of civil war, back in 1992, just before the first democratic elections, these two trapeze artists decided to set up a social project using circus to create unity and bring together young people from diverse cultures to learn, work, and play together as equals. Zip Zap Circus was born. Such a powerful story and one that resonated, in so many ways, with the core of my own filmmaking vocation.
Back in 1992, I, myself, was in the midst of my political awareness years. As a political science student, I was spending much of my University time in the UK picketing for boycotts against South Africa and was fully invested in marching to stop Apartheid. I had started making local films on social issues such as migration and social injustice, and the plight of the South African people really resonated within my heart and soul.
As my career has progressed into that of a passionate documentary maker, dedicated to filming compelling stories from around the world, I have come to consider my documentary work as a gift: a unique opportunity to share my ideal of what a beautiful place our planet could be, if only we took a leap of faith. That has been the driving force behind all my choices, from the last pearl divers of Japan, to the female rangers of Zimbabwe on the frontline against wildlife-trafficking, pioneering female scientists of Africa to the Khoisan cowboys of the Karoo. Set in the South African Karoo desert, this film tells the story of Seun, 29, of Bushman descendant, working on a farm threatened by the menace of fracking.
It was during the many visits to Africa that this shoot entailed, that I realized that, 27 years after the end of Apartheid, South Africa continues to suffer blatant and unacceptable inequalities. But it was also during that time that I discovered the vitality, generosity and spirit of the rainbow nation that made me believe that country was truly moving towards Nelson Mandela’s dream. So, when the planets aligned for me to move to Cape Town with my family, in 2017, I jumped at the opportunity to share with them my hopes for this country. And on arrival, I of course, immediately took my husband and children to a dazzling Zip Zap Circus performance…
To date, Zip Zap Circus has helped thousands of children "dare to dream" and transform these dreams in reality. The longevity of their school itself offers tangible proof that, by opening up new perspectives for children from South African townships and offering free artistic training for young people from different social backgrounds, they can really make an impact.
It was a privilege to share the Zip Zap adventures over a year. During that time, the Roger Federer Foundation invited them to create their biggest show ever. A unique opportunity to follow these young circus artists on a transformative journey – from the townships to performing in front of 55,000 people in the company of Roger Federer, Raphael Nadal, Trevor Noah and Bill Gates, no less.
A life-changing journey that started with a tree, a trapeze bar, a rusty old truck, and two trapeze artists, in love, who dared to dream.
Kate Thompson-Gorry