Arts Writer
THE Best Production of the 2015 Zabalaza Theatre Festival, a one-hander titled Fruit, will be staged at the Baxter’s Masambe Theatre for a limited season.
The layered, richly-textured play is written and directed by Paul Noko from Soweto-based Dala Arts group and is performed in English with some isiZulu by 19 year-old Matshediso Mokoteli.
The work has been described as, “awesome in all respects, technically proficient, well conceptualised, beautifully written and directed”.
A sensitive examination of the loss of innocence, Fruit is the simple tale of a young girl called Matlakala, who uses an indigenous game called masikitla to tell her story about what life is like for her growing up in the township of Diepkloof, an area ravaged by crime and poverty. In this game she uses stones to represent 16 characters from her neighbourhood which she seamlessly portrays.
At the age of 14 Matlakala receives her first doll that she names Lucy, and with whom she shares her story. Trapped in her childhood memories, she claims back her innocence.
Fruit beat over 45 other productions to win the Best Production award at this year’s festival, which was held in March. The winning production is awarded a chance to be staged as part of the Baxter’s mainstream line-up.
“There was no doubt that this would be the winner at our festival this year,” says Zabalaza Artistic Director Thami Mbongo. “Matshediso Mokoteli’s performance is exemplary – the tenderness with which she approaches her multiple roles is really quite remarkable for such a young actress. The clever writing and simple direction contribute to make this production fresh and relevant and allows it to resonate universally – it could be performed anywhere in the world. This is a work that is quietly powerful.”
The Zabalaza Theatre Festival is widely regarded as one of the premier development platforms in the country and has received great acclaim since its launch in 2011.
Since its inception it has grown exponentially each year, as the organisers pay special attention to innovation and expanding the programme.
Previous Best Production winners are Uhlazo by Loyiso Damoyi (2011), Worst of Both Worlds by Bulelani Mabutyana (2012), Skierlik by Phillip Dikotla (2013) and The Champion by Khayalethu Anthony in 2014.
These productions went on to be staged at various festivals and events in the Western Cape. Skierlik received two Fleur du Cap nominations and Khayalethu Anthony won the Fleur du Cap award for Best Performance in a review, cabaret or one-person show for The Champion.
Fruit previews at the Baxter Masambe Theatre on August 12, opens on August 13 and runs until August 29 at 7pm nightly, with matinee performances at 11am on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 2pm on Saturday August 15.
Another production titled Egoli, written and directed by Bongani Titana, was selected on merit as it was the best-seller at the festival and will also be staged in The Baxter Golden Arrow Studio.
The musical theatre production is performed by an ensemble cast of nine young actors. With music composed by Titana, this story is vibrantly brought to the stage through song.
Here, Madlamini is a strict, God-loving woman from a rural village who travels to Egoli, the city of gold, in search of her husband. He left their home for the big city in order to find a job and make some money for his family.
However, his plans were derailed when he got sucked into the fast and dangerous life of the big city and now she is on a journey to find him.
There are two evening performances at 7pm on August 17 and 19, two matinee performances on Saturdays, August 22 and 29 and school’s performances are at 10am and 12pm.
l Tickets: R85 with discounted block-booking tickets available for schools, charities and organisations. Book: Computicket, 0861 915 8000, www.computicket.co.za or book at any Shoprite or Checkers outlets. For discounts on corporate, school, charity, or fundrasing events, as well as block bookings: call 021 680 3962, sharon.ward@ uct.ac.za, or Carmen, 021 680 3993. Information: www.baxter.co.za; www.facebook.com/ zabalazafestival; E-mail: baxterzabalaza@ uct.ac.za