Witnessing the making of NDLOVUKAZI: THE MUSICAL, a magical production on Gender Based Violence

The production will perform for two days only August 21-22 at UJ Arts Centre CENTRE (KINGSWAY), opposite Campus Square (Auckland Park).

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

When I heard about this play, and that it is about Gender Based Violence (GBV) a scourge in our communities, I immediately made a decision to see it in rehearsal. I wanted to see the play during its making, complete with in rawness. After all we are in August, a month that is rightly so in the first instance is celebrated as our Women’s Month in this country, and at the same time in the second instance reminds us of the violence that is inflicted to our women folk many by men.

So August is a month that is punctuated by conflicting messages that we receive: one of celebrating women, and another of being reminded of the violence that women have to deal with.

And so, I made my way, to a rundown school in Mofolo, Soweto, a school that looks so neglected that is building clearly need a new court of paint. I found the school’s toilets overflowing with urine to the extent that one wonders if we actually have a government department called the Department of Basic Education that receives a budget running into billions of Rands, a Minister and a Deputy-minister, and a battalion of well-paid -officials in tow.

This is no exaggeration to suggest that visit6ing that school will break even the hardest of hearts. Thesele Secondary School in Mofolo clearly needs an urgent intervention by the powers that be, especially if we expect the school to produce doctors, accountants, engineers and thespians such as scriptwriter Sibusiso Khambule, musical directors Vincent shimmy Jiyane and Bongane Ncube, story conceptualiser, Choreographer and artistic director Thabang Ramaila.

These are the creative team behind NDLOVUKAZI: THE MUSICAL, a dance story musical production about the scourge ofGender Based Violence. It’s a thought-provoking musical told through cutting edgechoreography, soulful music, and text. It follows a series of stories of young South Africanwomen. It also shows and highlight what these women go through in the name of love,experiencing so much, giving so much and yet receiving less. They sacrifice, compromise andloose what they believe in. Regardless of the circumstances they choose to hold on, hope for thebest, telling themselves that things will be change, while things fall apart.

This is the last and final instalment of musical production, using a completely new cast. The

production is performed by 5 impeccable band members, 5 dynamic singers, 3 strong actors and8 versatile dancers, who all dives deep into portraying these complex characters and giving anew life to these cruel true stories.

The production will feature a guest performance by the powerful JMPD choir, who will be doinga rendition of 5 songs.

After speaking to Khambule and Ramaila during a break of the rehearsal where I witnessed a magical performance by the young cast as they went through a selection of scenes for the benefit of yours Truly, I left Thesele Secondary school, where the rehearsal took place motivated, and somehow full of hope that one day, one of the officials at the Department of Basic Education in Gauteng, will find it within their heart of hearts to raise the issue of the desperate situation of school, and make sure that the school is painted and its toilets are fixed and the urine will stop flowing undisturbed like a small rivulet in an unoccupied remote part of the country during a rain season.

That way, we may even hope to produce playwrights like the team behind NDLOVUKAZI: THE MUSICAL, for the environment of the school will then allow for such talent to flourish and contribute meaningfully to the cultural enrichment of the country.

If you want to be taken on a journey filled with an uplifting and through provoking theatrical treat, then you need to consider attending NDLOVUKAZI: THE MUSICAL, which will perform for two days only for two days only at the UJ Arts Centre at the University of Johannesburg on Wednesday 21 August 2024, and Thursday 22 August 2024.

Show details

Dates: 21st and 22nd August 2024

Venue: UJ ARTS CENTRE (KINGSWAY), opposite Campus Square (Auckland Park)

Time: 7:30pm

Price: R150 adults (R120 block booking)

R100 pensioners & kids between (7yrs to 15yrs)