‘Theatre will rise again’ campaign is on

Lusanda Zokufa 

Theatres may be dark because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the spirit of theatre lives on.

#TheatreWillRiseAgain is a social media campaign initiated by the Market Theatre Foundation for artists to share dramatic monologues and solo performances. The videos offer a walk down memory lane of some of the contemporary works the Market Theatre has staged over the years.

Market Theatre Foundation’s communications manager Zama Buthelezi says the programme, curated by the Market Theatre’s artistic director, James Ngcobo, features some of South Africa’s leading actors, dancers, musicians and poets. “They join our efforts to keep theatre alive online during the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.” 

Artistic director James Ngcobo says: “Even though our industry has been badly affected by the lockdown to curb this global pandemic, it is important that theatre is kept alive through our social media platforms.”

Ngcobo mobilised leading actors to create a self-recording of them performing a monologue from one of the plays that had graced the Market Theatre’s stages.

“I thought it would be fitting to talk to these amazing artists about recording monologues for social media, so that it can reach a wider audience through this period. I asked Mncedisi Shabangu to perform a monologue from Sizwe Banzi is Dead. It was such a joy to see two young actors tackling this piece and to witness the timelessness of the play. I so enjoyed watching them stepping into the shoes of John Kani and Winston Ntshona,” says Ngcobo.

Among the series of monologues in the campaign is Dorothy Ann Gould’s performance as Hester in Hello and Goodbye written by Athol Fugard.

The selection of solo performances also includes Lulu Mlangeni doing a solo dance piece as well as Tshepo Mngoma doing a violin recital of Jesu, Joy of man’s desiring by Bach. Audiences can also look forward to solo performances from Gugu Shezi and poems by Eric Miyeni and Sandile Ngidi. 

The programme also features an intergeneration of actors, among them Atandwa Kani, Nat Ramabulana, Lesedi Job and Lerato Gwebu.

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Twitter: @markettheatre.