Far away from any coast, in the middle of a gyre in the sea, lives a great big Patch of marine and plastic debris. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch aka GPGP aka Giepie for short, is a monstrous inverted mountain of trash floating in the North Pacific Ocean, with an insatiable appetite for plastic and rubbish. Luckily, the people of Earth love to litter, so Giepie always has plenty to assimilate into an even bigger Giepie. Which is great, because Giepie wants to take over the world!
As Giepie fantasizes about world domination, the determined and boastful Captain Herbert Hubris is transporting an enormous barge loaded with Very Important Plastics, a garbage barge, if you will, to wherever it will take it. But what happens when a lighthouse refuses to move? And what will it take to turn the tide?
Turn the Tide is a waste-puppet children’s play intended to inspire our next generation to help clean up our oceans, get into recycling and reducing plastic waste, and to raise their voices to hold big plastic polluters accountable.
WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER
Meg van Wyk is a theatremaker currently based in Wellington, Western Cape. Her experience as a performer and collaborator is deeply entrenched in theatre for young audiences and ensemble work, including Betti & the Yeti (2013), Orphan of Gaza (2015), Gertjie die Brandweerertjie (2016), Magical Myths (2016), Shrek the Musical JR (2017), Freckleface Strawberry the Musical (2017), and Mr Men Puppet Show (2021). In 2016, Meg was recognized as the winner of the National Children’s Theatre Young Directors program. She spent 2018-2021 working with young performers in Hong Kong, utilizing years onstage and on the road in theatre for young audiences to connect with and inspire the next generation of players. Since returning to South Africa in 2022, she’s written, produced, directed, and performed in award-winning shows.
PERFORMERS
Pelisa Nkangala from being in a pop girl band to musical theatre, Pelisa has transitioned from the music industry into becoming a fully fledged thespian, featured in prominent festivals like Suidoosterfees, coming from screens like Expresso, Hectic NINE9, Cape Town TV. Her high adrenaline for big audiences from The Switch On Lights Festivals is now in a slower, much more real place. Sharing monologues, characters, lessons, and vulnerable moments with strangers. She continues to win & collect awards in dancing and acting, as she realized she can touch more hearts through scripts than melodies and rap verses.
Siba Qoba, born S’babalwenati Mbasa Qoba, is a South African actor with a grounded, expressive presence and a deep love for storytelling. His journey into performance began at the age of eight at the Helen O’Grady Academy, where a lifelong passion for acting first took root. Siba holds a Diploma in Theatre and Performance and studied drama at the National School of the Arts, building a strong foundation in voice, movement, and emotional truth. His work spans film, television, theatre, and commercials, with screen credits including Scars, After Quiet, House of Ndalo, Life of the Urbanized Man, and the cult favorite Necktie Youth. On stage, Siba has taken on leading roles in productions such as Conversations With My Mother and Ezimiphefulo, alongside a wide range of ensemble and supporting work. Fluent in English, isiZulu, isiXhosa, and Afrikaans, Siba is also a skilled voice artist, singer, dancer, and writer. Versatile, curious, and deeply committed to the craft, Siba brings authenticity, sensitivity, and presence to every performance.
Dawn Fisher is a trained actress with a background in both theatre and film, with most of her professional experience rooted in television and screen performance. She is best known for her role as Simone in seasons 5 and 6 of Arendsvlei and currently appears in Skemergrond on kykNET & kie. Known for her bold, fun, and quirky style, Dawn brings vibrant energy and authenticity to every role. After several years dedicated to film and television, she is excited to return to the stage and reconnect with the immediacy and magic of live performance.