This Africa Month, the South African State
Theatre in Pretoria presents a hard-hitting play entitled Refugees that shines light on humiliating realities in the journey
of refugees in Africa.
The play follows people reduced to
statistics trapped in a refugee camp. It takes audiences through personal
stories of refugees expressing their pain, sadness, soul-searching, hope,
questioning and exploring the power of religion and spirituality. A tale that
questions the state of freedom. How far are we to being free? The story is told
through movement, song, images, and narration.
Refugees director Mpho Jerry Pooe says it’s fitting for this play to take
centre stage in Africa Month. “We dedicate this play to Africa Month as it will
make a big impact in making our people aware of their own continent. This is an
attempt to free our communities from ignorance. Our hope of making our
continent peaceful continues, our quest to challenge the world that Africa is
not a dark continent continues.”
Pooe is the former Artistic Director for
Windybrow Theatre with over 25 years’ experience in the arts industry. He has
written and directed over 20 productions. The Soweto-born’s work is popular in
his career province KwaZulu-Natal where plays like Moipone, Peace in the Valley, Ekhaya Poppie, and Dinuzulu have been staged at the
Playhouse Theatre. Another musical he wrote and directed, King Cetshwayo The Musical, toured the UK last year, 2017.
“There are no answers or solutions except
informing the audience about the realities of being a refugee, the pain, the
humiliation that they go through. The story is told through an African Eye,
digging deeper at the hidden greed by the West in ravaging our continent. As a
Pan African it is on our shoulders to tell our stories. Aluta Continua!” added Pooe.
The cast includes well-known KZN actors Mpume
Mthombeni; Musawenkosi Shabalala; Thamsanqa Silindana; Gabriel Mpanza; Xolani
Henema; Stella Zuma and Buhle Nkomo. Choreography is by Reggie Denster with lighting
design by Peter Mokgosi.
This production is presented in association
with Wushwini Pan African Centre for Arts Culture and Heritage based in
KwaNgcolosi, KZN. The arts centre is focused on developing community youth to
become skilled artists for the arts industry. Pooe is founder and Managing
Director of the centre.
Refugees has performances at the South African State Theatre from May 16 to 27,
2018. Tickets R110 (R55 on Tuesday nights) booked at Computicket.
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