The Garden Boy, written
and acted by the multi-talented Khaya Ngema, will be presented at the Bat
Centre from December 4 to 6. It is directed by veteran all-round drama
practitioner Thami Skhosana who directed All
Gone, Just for You, and won an award for Sitting Around The Fire.
An actor, composer, guitarist, playwright and comedian, Khaya
Ngema was among the top five finalsts in SABC 1’s So You Think You Are Funny. He has shared the stage with many
comedians in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. He recently appeared in Rhythm City, Uzalo and his own product
film Igomondela which won the award
at KZN Young Achievers Awards. He is also touring with school setworks
productions for matrics in all corners of KZN, Mpumalanga, Free State and Eastern
Cape.
The Garden Boy is
based on the Ngema’s own story and aims to celebrate 21 years of democracy while
reminding people of the history of oppression.
The show is set during the 80's at Amaoti during the attacks
between UDF and IFP, a time when protests against apartheid government were ended
by the security forces with guns and teargas. A time of kangaroo courts,
necklace, discipline which was called ukugona uBrenda, other people had two
membership cards of the organisation to secure themselves.
The story is told in toitoi, slogans, songs of the struggle,
chants, powerful dialogues, narrations, mimicking, changing of characters and
maskandi music where the actor was inspired by his father who was a guitarist.
The central character, Sizwe Mngadi, tells the story of his
father - nicknamed by the security forces as “the garden boy” because they
could not pronounce Mngadi. His father was a tuckshop owner and loyal and committed
member of UDF. He was the ring leader of UDF at Amaoti and was forefront in
forming the street committees and disciplining unfaithful comrades. He was also
in charge of dealing with the com-tsotsis. He was also detained by the security
force.
He died as he was trying to fight Black on Black violence
when his tuckshop and house were set alight. He suffered from oxygen failure while
helping his child escape from the burning house.
The Garden Boy runs
at the Bat Centre from December 4 to 6 with performances daily at 14h30 and 20h00.
Bookings on 083 4757 032.
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