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 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 dreams of engulfing the planet, the boastful Captain Herbert Hubris steers his gar-barge of Very Important Plastics straight into trouble. 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.

Written and directed by Meg van Wyk, Turn the Tide uses puppetry, clowning, and acapella vocals to bring its watery world to life. Every element of the production carries its message: puppets are crafted from recycled materials collected during beach clean-ups; props incorporate micro-plastics gathered from Cape Town shores; and costumes are thrifted and upcycled, weaving ocean-inspired aesthetics into every stitch.

The play features three performers—Dawn Fisher, Pelisa Nkangala, and Siba Qoba—who embody an ocean’s worth of characters through original acapella songs, physical comedy, and inventive puppetry. Puppet design is by Cailyb Prinsloo, with lighting by Dara Beth and costuming by Kaulana Williams.

Running just 45 minutes, Turn the Tide is designed for young audiences aged 7–12, though ocean lovers of all ages are welcome. Latecomers will be seated.

Performance dates:
1–3 April 2026 at 11:00 daily
4 April 2026 at 11:00 and 13:00

Venue:
Theatre Arts, Methodist Church Hall
Corner Milton Road and Wesley Street, Observatory

Tickets:
R80 general admission | R60 concessions (pensioners and students)
Bookings: www.theatrearts.co.za
Tickets also available at the door.

Turn the Tide invites young audiences to laugh, sing, and see the stuff we throw away in a startling new light. Because sometimes, the smallest hands can make the biggest waves.