(As the commander, Noxolo Mathula bellows at serviceman Mzwandile Ntombela with Nondumiso Mfeka persevering with her training in the background. Photo by Val Adamson)
Production offered a sense of freshness to a struggle story. (Review by Philisiwe Sithole)
Last night the Playhouse hosted the opening of the second programme of its 2012 Community Arts Festival which involved two productions, Meet Bra 6-2 and We salute yesterday, today and tomorrow.
The festival acts as a platform to introduce aspiring artists to a professional stage and mentoring them to better their craft.
Written by DV Ndlovu, and directed by Xolani Dlongolo, Sthembiso Zwane and Brian Mbanjwa, We Salute Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow features an impressive group of young performers who embraced the stage with professionalism and tremendous growth, sharing their story through powerful songs.
Performed by Ubuntu Arts Developments, the production is based on the true story about women who marched courageously to the Union Buildings to hand over a petition to the Prime Minister on August 9, 1956.
In the process, many women were brutally murdered and others were seriously injured. The story is told through powerful music, monologues and flashbacks. The cast includes, Noxolo Mathula, Nana Mkhize, Thembelihle Ngcobo, Syabonga Mbili, Zamokuhle Masondo, Mpilwenhle Magubane, Mzwandile Ntombela and Thobani Zwane.
The play begins with soldiers sneaking under an electric fence to hold a meeting on how to continue with the mission at hand. A female leader of the group (Nondumiso Mfeka) is reviving the spirit of the comrades to fight for freedom and the right to protect the country. A change of light transports us to an open field used for training soldiers. The rest of the story is being told in a flashback of women marching and facing the police. This leads to the confession of a female soldier on how she lost her mother in The Struggle. In a clear, coherent and precise voice (Noxolo Mathula) commands the soldiers, delivering a beautiful disciplined performance.
I reviewed it earlier at the Phambili Youth Theatre Festival held at Stable Theatre. It is a vibrant song and dance piece done in a very disciplined and interesting manner, keeping the audience intrigued by the harmony of voice, movement and marching. My initial response to the show when it played the Phambili Festival was that, while protest theatre is normally approached in a predictable and uncreative way, this production offered a sense of freshness. It has growth potential and the actors performed as a team, sharing a great energy. It was indeed a joy to watch.
There is one more performance in the Playhouse Loft this afternoon (April 21) at 14h00. Admission is free – as have been all CAF performances at The Playhouse. - Philisiwe Sithole
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