(Pic:Lovie Ramas Rai as Mr Khan with the cast)New musical written by Pranesh Maharaj.
Tuckshop is a new musical about life in and around Mr Khan’s informal tuckshop on the border of Phoenix and KwaMashu. Written by Pranesh Maharaj, it will be staged for one weekend in the Playhouse Drama.
A funny but highly emotional look into the lives of a group of individuals in the community of Phoenix whose stories are connected by love and tragedy. Tuckshop promises to be highly entertaining with very reflective moments of life in a cosmopolitan and culturally complicated area like Phoenix. The play is produced and directed by Pranesh Maharaj with Riyash Misra as co-director.
Tuckshop features original music and choreography. The show includes a live band on stage featuring great musicians Richard Ellis (musical director) on guitar; Mike Mazzoni on drums; Zinhle Mthembu on percussion, and Lee Ngidi on bass. Choreography is by Melanie Kisten with a talented cast including: Anesh Dusrath, Yasmin Seedat, Lovie Ramas Rai, Tashmika Harilall, Salona Surjoo, Nthando Mncube, Ayanda Khanyile, Michelle Kisten, Nomonde Matiwane, Darshana Moti and production manager Ilasha Ramaloo.
A first for theatre in this genre, Tuckshop plays out like a Broadway musical. “The events of the story revolve around a tuckshop, which is run by Mr. Khan who acts as the voice of reason in the troubled world of the central characters,” explains Pranesh Maharaj. The question of extra-marital affairs, AIDS, domestic violence, inter-racial relationships and poverty is the order of the day and the music and dance aspects lighten the load in some places whilst in others it entangles the audience into the character’s emotions”.
The musical tells the story of a myriad if characters – like Sanjeev and Mala, living at the border of Phoenix and Kwa Mashu. Sanjeev is out of luck and spends most of his time in Lungi’s shebeen whilst Mala keeps the family going with an office job. They lost a baby at birth and have struggled to deal with the repercussions, yet life must go on … but will it?
Since 1994; a new democracy and free trade sprouted street vending and informal trade in South Africa. Such trade is rampant in most developing countries, and is a source of employment and income to a large percentage of households. Communities have also fostered new relationships with these traders and the opportunity to channel stories through them is open. Tuckshop is not a gossip hotspot but, apart from trade, an informal counselling station; cynically replacing the therapeutic barman with time to listen more than advise. The play as a musical was born out of this concept.
Pranesh Maharaj has written stage shows (Cassandra at No.77) and various radio dramas and has created a production company, Polart Productions, together with Anesh Dusrath in order to create new projects for budding artists. As their latest offering, Tuckshop takes a major leap forward in comparison to the work done previously.
Tuckshop will run in the Playhouse Drama from May 20 to 23 with performances from Thursday to Saturday at 20h00 with matinees on May 21 at 16h00 and on May 22 at 14h00 (Sunday at 18h00). Booking through Computicket or the Playhouse Box Office.
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