(Tony Miyambo)
The Cenotaph of Dan wa
Moriri, an original Wits Theatre production first performed at the So Solo
Festival, is one of the productions being presented by The Playhouse Company as
part of its NEW STAGES season in May.
This unique, collaborative journey about loss, memory and
intimacy unfolds a personal narrative about a father-son relationship cut too
short. When Tony Miyambo, who stars in this one-hander, lost his father, he
struggled to come to terms with the void that was left in his life:
“Dealing with my personal biography to create The Cenotaph of Dan Wa Moriri has been
one of the most difficult yet rewarding processes that I have ever had to go
through. When Daniel Rasenga Miyambo died in 2007, the world stopped for at
least a week. The funeral was planned, food was prepared, people arrived, he
was put into the ground, people washed their hands, ate the food and life moved
on, but I couldn’t, says Miyambo.
“Waking up each day after that was painful; I could still
vividly recall the tone of his voice, the colour of his eyes and the feeling of
his touch. It haunted me, he lived everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Our
life together became an endless loop and the years began to strip away the
detail of this man from my mind. My father was a hairstylist; he used to touch
people’s heads and make them look beautiful. That had to count for something,
and I always believed in it. My father never got to see me on stage, and every
time I perform the piece I feel as though I am having a conversation with the
audience, myself and my Dad,” concludes Miyambo.
The sincerity of this highly personal narrative explores
themes of relationships, loss and longing. Written by Tony Miyambo and Gerard
Bester, in collaboration with William Harding, directed by Gerard Bester and
produced by Gita Pather, this powerful autobiographical piece leaves audiences
reflecting on their own lives and individual histories.
The Cenotaph of Dan wa
Moriri has public performances on May 6 and 7 at 19h30. Tickets R80 booked
through Computicket. The schools performances on May 5 and 6 are already sold
out.
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