Kgwadi Ya Marumo is traditional praise poetry accompanied by indigenous music and dance. It celebrates the achievements of the past, but does not forget the social issues of today. The work is accompanied by musical rhythms and African foot stamping.
Beef by poet Kgafela oa Mogogodi is being rehearsed at the State Theatre under the mentorship of Sekhabi. This will be Mogogodi's second work in this particular programme. It opens with the narration of a journey of a warrior scribe whose fury is inspired by the mutinous scream of the earth's hungry masses. The allegorical story of Unhurt, a human-headed cow with eagle wings, awakens Gogoa's appetite for the word. When Unhurt is exiled from the land, Gogoa undergoes a spiritual upheaval. In the company of bass, drum and song, Gogoa keeps strong.
Maloba by Frans Sema dates back to 1910, which marks the exclusion of the indigenous people of SA in the running of the land. The story celebrates our living heritage as a nation which has transcended our evil past to a more optimistic and resolute nation. The show features music, song, dance and the spoken word celebrating a nation now living with hope. The cast includes the North West Ten Tenors; The Strings Double Quartet; the North West Big Band and dancers.
Director Kholofelo Kola returns with the Ambie Sisters from Kimberley with a pantsula musical extravangaza and introduces new artists from the Northern Cape.
Asma Ayob is back with another children's production, Farah, which deals with the breaking down of the barriers of culture, class and creed. One night of passion between an Indian woman and a Jewish man in SA results in the birth of a daughter who cannot be acknowledged by her biological mother due to cultural confines and society.
Abie Litheko's Ratlolela is a two-hander and the title means "jumping the fence". Set at Seisa Ramabodu Stadium in Bloemfontein, it is about two die-hard fans of Bloemfontein Celtics Football Club who make sense of life through their observations of their club over the past 20 years.
Kola directs another piece written by Mbongeni Ngema, Wilhelmina. Because of her strength, men in her township fall in love with her. She married very young and was blessed with a baby girl. Her husband left for the mines in Joburg and that was the last time she saw him. She travels to Joburg where she starts a singing career.
News RSS