Maishe Maponya the late playwright is honoured through a stage play.
By CityLife Arts Writer
There is no doubt that the late playwright Maishe Maponya still had a lot to offer the theatre sector in South Africa, and anybody familiar with his theatre credits will be excused to conclude that he died before he offered all of what he could, and thanks to the gatekeepers who decide who gets in and who does not.
But at least eventually something is happening in his name, and therefore it is better late than nothing.
The Market Theatre Laboratory pays tribute to an iconic playwright, poet and human rights activist, Maponya, who passed away in September 2021. KAK! is a hard-hitting satirical play, drawing from Maponya’ s last work which is an anthology of poems – Truth be told: Da’s Kak in die Land . The play is devised by award-winning writer and director Josias Dos Moleele in collaboration with the Market Lab 1st year students, and award-winning choreographer Mdu Nhlapo. This daring piece addresses uncomfortable topics such as corruption, poor service delivery, gender inequality, racism and more.
Maponya is regarded as one of the most militant and critical voices in South African theatre. He used Black Consciousness Theatre to conscientise his audiences about socio-economic and political conditions. In KAK! the creative team wish to explore how Maishe used theatre to subvert the State and echo the plight of the so-called previously disadvantaged people even in a democratic era. Using a few of Maishe’s poems laced with music and movement, the young cast will consciously articulate the hopes, dreams and frustrations of every South African.
Set in a fictitious world aptly named Shashalaziville (meaning the open space), emerges real identifiable characters with real identifiable problems. The people of Shashalaziville will have only 6 years until their landfill space reaches saturation unless some drastic measures are taken to bring about substantial recycling change. However no one expected those in charge to take such drastic measures that will alter everyone’s loves forever. This becomes a journey of survival. Will the new wipe out the old or will the old remain the cost-effective solution to waste disposal?
This landfill space is analogous to the real challenges that South Africans face. And true to Maponya’ s satirical style, the piece mirrors the human condition in an ever-evolving world. The play does not offer answers but a space for dialogue and self-introspection in a fun-filled manner. The 18-strong Market Theatre Lab’s 1st Years give a hyper performance filled with parody, tongue-in cheek poems, music and dance. Hani and Eclipsed are plays that reflect the legacy of Market Lab students in creating socially engaged plays and KAK! holds the lamp to carry that legacy forward.
Production Information:
The show is on from Wednesday 24- Friday 26 November 2021
Time: 19:00
Price: R70 ONLY! www.webtickets.co.za