Mkhwane is a second generation pure-bred theatre practitioner with 10 years of industry experience. At this stage in his career he is very interested in creating work that Durban audiences in particular will enjoy.
Tholuthando, Mkhwane’s previous production for the month of love, was a great success with each show being sold out.
Mkhwane has a matured understanding of presenting a full scale story on stage with a tantalising way of sustaining the attention of an audience.
He calls his next offering to his growing audience The Easter Concert Musical Experience. This production is a full-scale two-act play with music dance and storytelling. It features a full cast of all the actors working under his theatre company Menzi Mkhwane Creations.
He created this production last year but the lockdown stopped it from opening. And now he is bringing it back with a clear sense of determination and excitement.
Mkhwane has taken the time to study the scriptures of the new testament pertaining to the ministry of Jesus Christ. “The gospels of Luke and Mathew are very vivid and there is a lot of information on the Saviour. But creating a story to be presented on stage requires a different kind of focus. Meaning my focus needs to be on honouring the essence of the word of God while still presenting something that theatre lovers will enjoy. And in this production in particular I have found a balance,” he says of the Easter Concert Experience.
The production takes place at the Bat Centre which Mkhwane takes as his theatre-creating home. Here audiences will pay to see a full production with an interval in the middle. This will give the audiences a chance to witness a full experience of the arch of the story as it unfolds in front of them.
Mkhwane is working with his musical director Tyson Shezi who designed music for Tholuthando as well as Sboniso Ncwane his percussionist who played alongside Mkhwane in his successful year-end production JESU The Musical which received standing ovations each night.
“The show will start outside the theatre and the audience will get a surprise as they attend the show - I will not say any more. I have designed the production to be like a church event. There are many moments of reflection on the life of the Saviour as we move through his epic chapters and right at the beginning we even reimagine his life as a boy. This is dramatised by one of my members, Mhlonishwa Sunsta, who is a very skilled contemporary dancer,” says Mkhwane.
There are many other surprises that audience will receive as they will get a chance to hear about special upcoming productions during their interactions with the host for the evening.
The event will be hosted once more by Menzi Mkhwane’s key host Nomthandazo Shandu who will keep audiences entertained and feeling warm and welcome.
The Easter Concert Musical Experience is for the whole family; all ages are welcome to attend.
It takes place at the Bat Centre and runs
from March 31st of 6pm to the 3rd of April 6pm each day.
Day time shows include
March 31 and April 1 at 18h00
April 2 and 3 at 14h00 and 18h00
Tickets R150 (R100 pensioners and students with a student card. R80 for minors). To book tickets watsapp on 079 554 4941.
The BAT Centre is situated at 45 Maritime Place in the Small Craft Harbour in Durban. For more information contact 031 332 0451 or visit http://www.batcentre.co.za
Posts
