The Playhouse Company will present Gone Native – the critically acclaimed
musical theatre production that bears the indelible imprint of the late South
African jazz legend, Dr Hugh Masekela, for a short season this weekend.
Written and directed by the award-winning
actor and playwright, Makhaola Ndebele, Gone
Native was first presented by Soweto Theatre in August 2017 with music
composed by Hugh Masekela.
An inspiring piece of theatre that tells of
love across the colour bar in 1950s apartheid South Africa, Gone Native highlights the power of love
and youth in the fight against unjust government laws in a prejudiced society.
The production focuses on Regina Brooks, a
white woman who reached notoriety when she asked to be reclassified as a
coloured woman. Brooks was arrested under the Immorality Act of the time for
living with a black man, Sergeant Richard Khumalo, and appealed to be
classified in order to be with her black partner and their daughter Thandi.
Author-director Ndebele, speaking about the
genesis of Gone Native to The Star
newspaper, said: “It’s a love story at the heart of it. Love does not choose,
politics aside. But when you are attracted to someone, that’s what it is. There
are no social boundaries. The story is about young people deciding what they
want for themselves, and the State trying to stop that - but they fought it
until the end.”
Touching on the issue of identity, Ndebele
continued: “Another theme is that sense of belonging. We have so many different
groups as Africans. It’s that kind of time when people ask where they fit in.
This is a question that leads to reflection about all these identities; what do
they mean, why do we take them for granted? The musical has never been more
relevant. It shows how young people have the power to reimagine their lives. We
are looking for that now. It’s a new South African musical. It’s fresh music.
We’re really starting a story from scratch.”
With a duration of 85 minutes (no
interval), Gone Native plays in The
Playhouse Drama with schools performances will held on Wednesday and Thursday
(May 15 and 16) at 10h00 (R30 tickets per learner booked through
Salescoordinator@playhousecompany.com or call 031-369 9407).
Public performances are on Thursday May 16 at
19h00, Friday May 17 at 19h30, and Saturday May 18 at 14h00 and 19h00. Book through Computicket outlets at selected
branches of Shoprite Checkers, telephonically on 0861 915 8000, online at
www.computicket.com, or call Playhouse Box Office 031-369 9540/369 9596 (office
hours).
For more about Gone Native and other upcoming shows at The Playhouse Company,
visit www.playhousecompany.com, email Sindi Sabelo, The Playhouse Company’s
Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator, at CommsCord@playhousecompany.com or
call her on 031 369 9405.
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