For the past few years the Musho Festival has run a fringe programme, which year in and year out has brought one thing to the fore – Durban is full of theatrical talent.
Festival director Emma Durden said after recognising the abundance of new voices coming out of local universities’ drama departments, they decided to offer these aspirant theatre practitioners a professional stage.
“… the New Voices programme is a free platform and they also get paid! So hopefully this programme is a springboard for these young writers and directors. We really encourage Durban to come along and enjoy,” she said.
Here’s a glance at the new voices at Musho this year:
• Looking into the Abyss (January 19, 2pm) Produced by nu-Breed Productions, written and directed by Sabelo Ndlovu and Menzi Mkhwane, and performed by Thobani Mbhele (mentored by Giselle Turner) … A riveting story about the mysterious death of a young girl from the township of uMlazi. As more light is shed on her unexplainable death, the darkness of the people surroun-ding the true events of what hap-pened is slowly released. (Drama. All ages. 45 minutes)
• Behind the Curtain of Justice (January 19, 3pm)
Written and directed by Radwinn Paul van Wyk, per-formed by Musa Ntuli and Monde Tshazi (mentored by Christa Biyela) … A middle-aged detective gets a surprise visit from an old high school friend who is also an undercover detective.
Peppered with moments of light comedy and sarcasm, the audience is kept in suspense by the gradual unmasking of the lives of these two characters. (Drama. ages 16+. 45 minutes)
• Race Trouble (January 19, 4pm)
Written and directed by Devaksha Moodley and performed by Kamini Govender and Christopher Ndabenhle Tobo (mentored by Rowin Moonsamy) … A poignant, sometimes humo-rous and sincere story about two young South Africans whose race, family, community and the ways in which they have been condi-tioned by these things are explo-red and confronted, however uncomfortable it may be to deal with. (Drama. ages 13+. 45 minutes)
• Mob Feel (January 19, 5pm)
Written and directed by Kline Smith and performed by Mpilo Nzimande and T.Q. Zondi (mentored by Peter Mitchell) …Evocative, vivid and poetic language and imagery is used to articulate the detrimental effects of mob mentalities and township violence, and the dangers of losing one’s sense of individual feeling when caught up in a mob feeling. (Drama/Physical Theatre. All ages. 45 minutes)