An interactive theatre production will tour Cape Town schools this August. It will promote emotional wellness in schools by helping learners build emotional tools to manage anxiety, bullying, and the pressures of a digital world.
Titled High Five, the show will run from Monday 14 August to Friday 29 August. It will launch at Micklefield School in Rondebosch. This initiative highlights the significance of fostering emotional wellness within school settings.
Kay Cheytanov, founder of the education company 3RC, created High Five after seeing a need for emotional support in schools. Earlier this year, the show reached more than 6,900 learners in primary schools. It received enthusiastic responses from both children and teachers, further underscoring the importance of emotional wellness in educational environments.
“Children engaged on a deep level,” Cheytanov said. “Teachers told us their classrooms felt different afterwards. Kids had new language to express how they were feeling, and schools immediately asked when we’d be back. That confirmed we were doing something important.”
Using performance, music, movement, and storytelling, High Five teaches children how to deal with fear, stress, and peer pressure. The show introduces five emotional wellness tools—kindness, safety, resilience, bravery, and individuality—through relatable characters and stories.
Cheytanov developed the concept after her own daughter experienced bullying at school.
“Watching my daughter struggle with anxiety and isolation broke my heart,” she said. “But I knew I had the tools to respond. I’ve always believed in theatre’s ability to connect and heal, so I used my background in education and performance to reach children in a way they understand.”
The Cape Town leg of the tour will include a media launch at Micklefield School on Thursday 14 August. Guests will hear Cheytanov speak about her 25-year journey in education. She will discuss her work with 3RC, which also runs the Rocking Future career expos.
The event will feature:
- A screening of the High Five show from 11:30 to 12:30
- Reflections from learners who participated in the program
Cape Town marks another stop in a growing national tour. Cheytanov hopes the production offers teachers and parents new ways to connect with children on an emotional level.
“One teacher said the show ‘opened a doorway’ to talk about emotions more freely in class. A parent told us her son came home and asked, ‘Do you ever feel wobbly inside too?’ That’s the kind of emotional intelligence we want to nurture.”
“We’re not just preparing kids for careers—we’re helping them become emotionally strong human beings.”
Looking ahead, 3RC plans to adapt the show for older learners. They will also translate it into multiple languages.
“We’re just getting started,” Cheytanov said.
