(Segametsi Gaobepe
& Beverly Qwabe. Pic by Val Adamson)
Following its debut run in June 2014, the innovative Mine Boy musical is being revived for a
short run at UKZN’s Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from October 8 to 11.
In a celebration of 20 years of democracy, the Wushwini
Arts, Culture and Heritage Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard College)
and Stable Theatre collaborated on the first musical adaptation of Peter
Abrahams’ novel, Mine Boy which was first
presented at Stable Theatre in June.
This classic text, written in 1949, is considered the first
modern South African novel written by a black author. Over time it has lost none
of its relevance. The themes around apartheid, labour and poverty are those seen
in the paper every day. Consequently, the show questions what has really changed
since 1994?
After successful adaptations of Zakes Mda’s Madonna of Excelsior and Ben Okri’s The Famished Road, directors Roel
Twijnstra and Jerry Pooe adapted this definitive novel with choreography by
Sphiso Majola of Flatfoot Dance Company together with the cast. Design and
video projections are by Doung Jahangeer, photographs by Dean Hutton and Val
Adamson.
Eager Artists, the resident theatre company of Wushwini Arts
and Heritage Centre founded by Jerry Pooe in 1993 when he was still a student
of then Natal University, are also celebrating 20 years with this production.
Mine Boy runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from October
8 to 11 with performances Wednesday to Saturday at 19h00 with an additional
matinee on October 11 at 14h00 Tickets R50 (R30 students on presentation of
their student cards). Tickets are for sale at the door and at Computicket.
This production of Mine
Boy is made possible through generous support from: DAC, City of Ethekwini,
UKZN and Santam. Plans are in place for Mine
Boy to tour after its re-run in Durban.
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