‘Marikana: The Musical’ relives events of the massacre a decade on
THROUGH music, dance and exceptional storytelling, the critically acclaimed theatre production Marikana: The Musical brings to life the harrowing events leading up to August 16, 2012, when police shot and killed protesting miners in Marikana, near Rustenburg.
Meshack Mavuso-magabane, Aubrey Poo, Siyasanga Papu, Emma Mmekwa and Mpho “Mckenzie” Matome lead a 40-member cast and 13-piece band in unleashing a blowby-blow account of the events that led to the loss of 44 lives.
Written and directed by multi-award winning playwright Aubrey Sekhabi, Marikana: The Musical is currently staging at the South Africa State Theatre (SAST), and runs until August 28 as part of the 10-year commemoration of the Marikana massacre.
The musical is an adaptation of the book We Are Going to Kill Each Other Today: The Marikana Story, by renowned South African writers Thanduxolo Jika, Felix Dlangamandla, Lucas Ledwaba, Sebabatso Mosamo, Athandwa Saba and Leon Sadiki.
On August 16, 2012 police opened fire on a crowd of protesting mineworkers who were demanding a wage increase from the Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana, killing 34 mineworkers. Security guards died too.
Recalling how the musical came to be, Shekhabi said: “I remember in 2014, Lucas Ledwaba sent me an SMS and said Bra Aubrey, we’ve written a book, do you want to adapt it into a musical? They sent me the book, and once I started reading it, I never stopped.
“At the time, the situation was tense, there was the commission, but at the same time, I was thinking, we’ve had the Sharpeville Massacre where the apartheid regime shot us, we’ve had the 1976 Soweto uprising. And here we are killing and shooting each other.
“And people still don’t understand the magnitude of what happened in Marikana. That event is the biggest incident of police brutality since the advent of democracy and it revived memories of the brutality suffered under the apartheid security police.”
According to Sekhabi, it was important for him as an artist to start the conversation through storytelling.
Marikana: The Musical was last staged in 2017 at the SAST. After its stage premiere in 2014, the explosive musical received rave reviews from audiences and critics alike.
“Every performance, every night, we see audiences laugh and cry. The show is heavy but it’s a theatrical experience. It’s a powerful story. It’s a sad story that is told beautifully, even if I have to say so myself. This is not just a musical, it is an experience.”
The show explores themes of grief, loss, violence, ubuntu and brutality.
“The show doesn’t only focus on the guys who were killed on August 16.
“The play goes back to the villages and townships where they came from and gives faces and names to the fallen brothers, sons, fathers and uncles.
“When I read Athandiwe Saba’s chapters ... she went to speak to the women of the deceased and that was too special, and one of the reasons why I wanted to adapt the book into a play. It’s not all about the violence, it’s about humanity.”
Don’t miss Marikana: The Musical at the SAST. Tickets are available at Webtickets for R150.
Other shows to catch this August.
My Children, My Africa!
Soweto Theatre, Soweto Date: On until August 25. Written by Athol Fugard in 1989 shortly before the end of the apartheid, My Children, My Africa! presents an honest portrait of South Africa on the brink of a revolution, and is a testament to the power and potential of youth, hope and ideas.
Produced by Uk-based South African lecturer, dancer and playwright Dr Nobulali Dangazele examines issues like apartheid, race relations, and the effects of European colonialism.
My Children My Africa! is showcasing at this year’s Soweto Theatre Schools Setworks Festival.
All Stars Shine
The Playhouse Company, Durban Date: Saturday, August 20. In recognition of the importance of music in the development of children, The Playhouse Company presents a showcase for KZN Schools Talent.
The Playhouse Company’s schoolbased music programmes provides pathways for musical careers in the industry, creating platforms where leading musicians are discovered.
Directed by Natalie Rungan, All Stars Shine is a celebration of the diversity of musical cultures South Africa offers.
Azania
Baxter Theatre Centre, Cape Town Date: On now until August 20. Award-winning play Azania is back at the Baxter for a limited season. It’s about a father’s struggle to find his family towards the end of apartheid.
Bantu Africa’s journey starts in the late 1980s, after the devastating loss of his family by a mob that burnt down his family home on the suspicion that his father was a whistle-blower for the apartheid government.
Despite Africa being a man with no political affiliation or Struggle background, he returns in 1993 to find his 14- year-old daughter, who has been missing since the tragic incident.
This takes place as South Africa enters its democratic dispensation.
Written and directed by Xola Mziwakhe and performed by Sibusiso Sithole, with music accompaniment by Hloniphani Art Mthethwa, Azania is an expedition of hopes and disappointments.
Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa
Baxter Theatre Centre, Cape Town Date: On until Saturday.
The youth drama festival aims to strengthen the link between the arts and education. It unites and empowers children from across the socio-economic spectrum using the transformational power of theatre and specifically the works of Shakespeare.
To date, the event has seen the participation of more than 557 schools, over 10 000 youth and 693 educators across the provinces. This year audiences have totalled in excess of 27 300 people.
My Vrou se Man se Vrou
Atterbury Theatre, Pretoria Date: August 23 - 28.
My Vrou se Man se Vrou is based on the original piece Run for Your Wife, which holds the record for the longestrunning farce on London’s West End and also broke records in South Africa.
It follows the story of John Smith, a London taxi driver who lives with his wife Mary in Highgate and also with his wife Barbara in Finchley, just four minutes apart.
Of course, the two Mrs Smiths are unaware of each other’s existence.
John uses his irregular working hours as an excuse to hide his double life. An accident and wrong address cause a chain reaction and John must stand up to prevent his secret from being revealed.
Will they find out about each other?
Director Frans Swart of Lefra Productions decided to bring My Vrou se
Man se Vrou back to the stage after 10 years.