(Musa
Hlatshwayo with Thabani Mahlobo in the background. Pic by Simanga Zondo)
Musa Hlatshwayo is the 2018 Standard Bank
Young Artist Award Winner for Dance. He has created EBuTHONGWENI, a new full-length innovative site-specific dance
theatre piece, for his company Mhayise Productions’ first season for 2018.
Choreographed and directed by the
multi-award winning Hlatshwayo, this production features an ensemble of
multi-skilled performers moving to the sounds of a live band comprising street-smart
guitar maestro Thabani Mahlobo, the famous pipe-and-shaker busker Unico Muzico
and the dynamic urban-Zulu wordsmith, guitarist, songstress and powerhouse
Phumzile Zondo. This piece is sure to thrill, challenge and excite audiences to
journey into a realm where dreams, visions and epiphanies constantly unfold.
Carefully placed and creatively threaded in
and around the Pump House at the Durban South Beach, this dynamic performance
is sure to leave audiences moved. EBuTHONGWENI
is a dynamic integration of contemporary dance with personal stories retold in
abstract and narrative format.
Creative text, music and poetic imagery all
seamlessly combine to be beautifully echoed by the refreshing soundscape and
ambience of the Durban South Beach. With a unique set made out of a thousand
recycled bottles, thousands of used paper and other materials, this magical
piece lands itself as an activation, installation and a performance that is
bound to be a truly unique trance-inducing experience.
“Messages and messengers will be sent
dressed in white and coded in metallic-coloured dreams. Questions will
arise...discoveries might unfold as we journey on; ‘EBuTHONGWENI,” says Hlatshwayo.
“EBuTHONGWENI” can be loosely translated as
‘in sleep’. In the African context, however, many continue to discover more
articulate meanings behind the state of ‘sleep’ where some have defined it as a
state of ‘rest’ where the physical body slides into a biologically wired “coma”
while the spirit recharges ...or continues experiencing life in the
subconscious and spiritual sphere.
“EBuTHONGWENI” can also be defined as a
subconscious transitioning of the soul into a hypnotic trance where the
physical body surrenders to a spiritual maintenance; an experience of
connections and disconnections guided by various factors, the source(s) and the
agents of our mysterious living.
The production will take place at The Pump
House on the Durban beachfront. The space is an unconventional performance
space and the performance is site specific. The show will include moving around
and will have sections that will get the audience members possibly moving
closer to the beach. Warm and comfortable clothing is advised.
Invited guests will be performing alongside
the Mhayise Productions cast and its Movement Laboratory trainees will be
joining them for their professional work experience. This is a family show,
children will be allowed provided they are supervised and accompanied by an
adult.
Mhayise Productions acknowledges the
support of the NAC for the grant that has made this possible; EThekwini
Municipality for the use of the Pump House; EThekwini Living Arts Culture and heritage
for the rehearsal space; Smanga Zondo for the photographs, and Standard Bank
and the National Arts Festival for the support.
EBuTHONGWENI runs from January 24 to 27 at 19h00 with a further performance on January
28 at 15h00 at The Pump House near California Dreaming on the Durban beachfront
near the swimming pools.
Although tickets will be sold at the door,
it is advisable for audience members to pre book via email or phone call as
space will be limited.
Bookings and enquiries:
mhayiseproductions@yahoo.com or 081 305 5212. Tickets R65 (R55 pensioners and
students) purchased at the door.
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