(Mbongeni
Ngema & Percy Mtwa. Pic by Val Adamson)
The Playhouse Company, an Agency of the
Department of Arts and Culture, makes history this year end by presenting South
African theatre giants Mbongeni Ngema and Percy Mtwa in the roles they created
four decades ago, when they appear onstage in their acclaimed political satire,
Woza Albert! One of the great classics of South African
protest theatre, the production, directed by Chris Hurst, is due to run in
Durban through December, 2018.
At the height of apartheid, actors Ngema
and Mtwa asked the question, what would happen if Christ returned to South
Africa? They developed the stage play, Woza
Albert! with renowned theatre-maker, Barney Simon. A celebrated example of
hard-hitting political satire, the production toured the world during the late
1970s and ‘80s, and played a major role in raising global support for the
anti-apartheid struggle.
“One of the most important aspects of live
theatre is the role it can play in sensitising people to issues that need
addressing, both past and present,” says Playhouse Company Chief Executive and
Artistic Director Linda Bukhosini. “In this regard, 2018 will go down as an
epic year for us at The Playhouse, having staged two landmark South African
productions after an absence of many years. Gibson Kente’s ground-breaking How Long? played on our mainstage in
May. And now we are proud to end the year by presenting a powerful new staging
of the renowned classic, Woza Albert!
- brought back to life by its two original creators.”
Woza
Albert! explores how the second coming of Christ
(Morena) would affect the lives of poor black people, and how the white
apartheid authorities would react. The two actors present a compelling view of
a multitude of black and white characters as they explore themes of race and
class, and expose the power structures of white supremacy. The play concludes
with a call for Christ (Morena) to raise the dead heroes and leaders who
opposed apartheid.
Although apartheid officially ended in 1994
with South Africa’s first democratic elections, and we have seen social changes
and the emergence of a wealthy and diverse economic ruling class, for many
South Africans, society still reflects great inequity in terms of race and
class. Land issues remain unresolved. What would Christ say and do if he
returned to South Africa today? What would the great leaders of the struggle
against apartheid say? This production provides an opportunity for you to
reflect on the past and contemplate the future.
Woza
Albert! previews in The Playhouse Loft on December 6
and 7 (tickets R80). The production opens on December 8, and runs until December
23. It then transfers to The Drama Theatre for a final run between December 27
and 30. The play has an age restriction of 13 years, and a duration of 90
minutes.
Early booking is advised for this hot
property production. Tickets from R100 to R150 are available through
Computicket outlets at Shoprite Checkers, telephonically on 0861 915 8000 or
online at www.computicket.com. Alternatively, book through Playhouse Box Office
031-369 9540 / 369 9596 (office hours).
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