The
Mandela Bay Theatre Complex (MBTC) is presenting the Iphulo Drama Festival across
three city stages from Monday, March 21 to Saturday, March 26.
“We
will be staging the finest productions from throughout South Africa,” said MTBC
chief executive officer Monde Ngonyama, and these include plays, musicals, comedy,
poetry recital and talks.
The Iphulo Drama
Festival is in March every year to celebrate the World Theatre Day and Human
Rights Day.
It was started by
Marian Lucouw in 2008 as a one-act drama festival and has evolved to become a
festival featuring strong productions from throughout the Eastern Cape and
elsewhere in South Africa.
“This
shows how a vision can start small and grow over the years to become a benefit
of many,” stated Ngonyama. “What’s more, it is our intention to use Iphulo as a
door to the National Arts Festival in Makhanda three months later. Next year we
shall add workshops and a book expo.”
The
drama Gerald, Robin and an Old Friend opened at The Barn theatre on Monday
evening. The production was written and
produced by Simphiwe Vikilahle, an award-winning playwright and director who
hails from Kwazakhele.
The playwright started
his career as an actor but soon found a passion in writing and he was recently
the recipient of an Isakhono award – an initiative of the Mandela Bay Theatre
complex which recognises talent in the performing arts.
Gerald,
Robin and an Old Friend is a four hander which follows the life of a former
rugby player. Through the highs and lows in this story, one gets to understand the
hardships that black rugby stars face on and off the field.
Another
festival highlight is the drama Buzani kuBawo, directed by legendary Eastern Cape theatre, film and TV actress Thoko Ntshinga.
Buzani
kuBawo, which translates as “Ask Father”, is a drama about love and the conflicts that arise
when traditional expectations clash with changing values. It also shows early
traces of what is today’s rampant gender based violence and femicide.
The
six-day festival wraps up on Saturday night with a live comedy and poetry
production.
The
full drama line-up is:
- Buzani kuBawo by
Witness K Tamsanqa directed by Thohko Ntshinga; - Gerald, Robin and an Old Friend
written and directed by Simphiwe Vikilahle; - Boy Ntulikazi written
and directed by Thobani Nzuza and Kagiso Tsimakwane; - Vuka Machel written and directed by Mncedisi
Shabangu; - Champion written by Khayalethu
Anthony and directed by Khayalethu Mofu.
There
will also be a double bill of musicals from two sets of young artists who won the
inaugural Cabaret and Beyond
(CAB) Festival awards:
- La Familia by Ntlantla Swana and Khanyisa
Sigwanda; - Call Me a Fool by Leah
Mari.
The CAB Festival, a partnership between the Centre
for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the MBTC that started
in 2021, awarded grants for development in musical theatre.
The Mandela Bay Theatre Complex, comprising
the Opera House, the Barn and Stageworld Performing Arts School, is an agency
of the Department of Sport Arts and Culture, supported by the Eastern Cape’s
Department of Sport Recreation Arts and Culture and the Nelson Mandela Bay
Municipality.
This
week’s events are spread across the Opera House’s Main Stage and The Barn Theatres
in John Kani Road, and the Athenaeum in Athol Fugard Terrace.
The
daily programme starts at varying times, with the final show at 19:00 each
evening.
Tickets are R50 per show, or R100 for a daily
pass and R150 for a full festival pass. It is on sale at the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex
box office.
- For further information, visit the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex Facebook page or call Zweni, 071 250 4585, or festival
management assistant Sonwabile Mfecane, 082 436 9896.
