(Right: Mpume Mthombeni. Pic
by Val Adamson)
KZNSA Gallery, in partnership with Empatheatre, invites audiences
to a thought-provoking public conversation on Isidlamlilo (The Fire Eater): The
(Un)making of Zenzile Maseko.
Isidlamlilo is an electrifying, award-winning one-woman play that has been heralded as a contemporary South African theatre classic. Brought to life by acclaimed actor Mpume Mthombeni and theatre-maker Neil Coppen through Empatheatre, Isidlamlilo (The Fire Eater) is a profound and urgent piece of storytelling.
The production introduces us to Zenzile Maseko, a woman in her sixties living in a Durban women’s hostel. When the Department of Home Affairs mistakenly declares her dead and cannot reverse the error, Zenzile is cast into a Kafkaesque nightmare. To secure her survival, she is forced to reawaken the vengeful spirit of Impundulu (The Lightning Bird) — her former alias as one of the IFP’s most feared assassins during the build-up to the 1994 elections.
Inspired by the real-life oral histories of women living in Durban hostels, the performance weaves together myth, religious symbolism and traditional beliefs. It touches on political violence, the transition to democracy, inequality and the bureaucracy of government departments, while reminding us of what it means to refuse to be overcome.
A gallery representative said: “Having toured South Africa, with international stages in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany ahead, we are excited to bring the conversation around this significant production to KZNSA Gallery.
“Join us on October 17, 2026, at 10h30 as we unpack Isidlamlilo, it's making, and the histories and experiences that inform the work.”
Event Details
Venue: KZNSA Gallery, 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, Durban
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time: 10h30 - 12h00
Entry: Free
Posts
