(Jack Ace played by Muzikayise Mtshali &
Jack played by Sbonelo Nzuza)
Chronicles
of Jack – a quirky original tragi-comedy about the life of a rural student at a
city university - is a new play especially written for DUT by Mbasa Tsetsana (Waiting
for Nelson) which will be performed by DUT students at the Courtyard
Theatre for two public performances on August 18 and 19, 2017.
The
production takes a wry look at the experiences of a young student from rural
Eastern Cape, and his challenges to adapt to an urban city campus as part of
the Fees Must Fall generation – about some of the social complexities, clashing
ideologies and tussle between tradition and self-discovery.
The
action is performed to a soundtrack of African traditional songs, and
newly-composed original numbers.
The
production was written especially for DUT drama undergraduates to allow the
students to experience a very intense, high-impact rehearsal process: the whole
project from start to finish will take ten days - with the rehearsal process
itself scheduled to take only 48 hours. The concept will allow participating
students to have a taste of life in a post-academic world with challenging
industry-appropriate deadlines. It also encourages focus, concentration, commitment,
resourcefulness and efficiency.
It is
directed by DUT drama student Sphephelo Dlamini and Dr Pamela Tancsik. Dlamini
has also composed the original music. The production features 24 students
chosen from an open audition from first, second and third years.
Dlamini
directed Waiting for Nelson last year for his directing project. A
final year student at DUT’s Drama and Production Studies department, Dlamini
says that he’s always wanted to change the world through the arts. “I have always wanted to be an actor, since from my
childhood. I grew up with passion of changing the world. That was and is a bold
idea, but I believe, that through the arts, we are changing the world every
day. I personally believe that theatre is where people get educated and it is
where people express how they feel about the society they live in. They also
talk about what other people are afraid to speak about, and be the voice of the
voiceless. For the past three years I never thought that I would one day be
able to tell African stories through dialogue on stage – well, theatre has
allowed me to. I am particularly excited about the time challenges of this
project: theatre as speed dating!”
Mbasa Tsetsana is a theatre actor,
writer and director from East London. He also acts and writes for the screen.
He has written, directed and staged a total of six plays. He has acted in a
number of stage productions including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph
and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Athol Fugard’s Master
Harold and the Boys, Morountodun, directed by Andrew Buckland and Red Shoes, written and directed by Leila
Henriques. His debut in television came with his supporting role as Mxolisi, on
ETV’s 8 part miniseries, The Alliance (2016).
He has been trained by South African
and international greats, such as Andrew Buckland, Janet Buckland, Anton
Krueger, Bailey Snyman, Dr Samuel Ravengai, Greg Homann, Prof David Peimer
and Brumilda van Rensburg. He has had the honour of working with, and being
mentored by award winning artists such as Sello Maake kaNcube, Pamela Nomvete,
Mpho Osei Tutu, Leila Henriques, Craig Higginson and Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom.
He has written, acted and directed for
stages such as The South African State Theatre, The Market Theatre Laboratory,
The WITS Downstairs Theatre and The Roodepoort Theatre’s Youth Arts Festival,
where his show, Waiting for Nelson,
won best drama for the festival.
Chronicles
of Jack runs in the Courtyard Theatre on August 18 and
19. For more information
contact the Departmental Secretary, Lebohang Sibisi, on 031 373 2194 or lebohangs@dut.ac.za The double bill starts at 18h00. Tickets
R30 (R20 students) at the door.
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