Cape Town - Mbali Bloom is a playwright, actress and poet who has enthralled audiences with her work on stages locally and abroad. Her film credits include Disgrace and Big Fellas.
As a writer and poet Bloom has worked internationally on various projects with the women’s poetry collective Rite to Speak. Her poetry has also been published and translated in the anthology Puisi, What is Poetry, featuring select writers from around the world.
Bloom celebrated her first decade in the arts industry this year with a revival of Tseleng: the Baggage of Bags in Botswana, a poetry tour in Germany and China, and re-uniting with director Fred Abrahamse in Eugene O’Neill’s play Desire Under the Elms which is on at the Baxter.
How widely have you travelled?
Growing up I travelled a lot. In 2009 I wrote an autobiographical one-woman show titled Tseleng: The Baggage of Bags directed by Sara Matchett which spoke about my travels growing up. My mother was in exile in Botswana so, though I was born in South Africa, I spent my early childhood in Botswana, then we moved back to South Africa and travelled all over almost every two years until I came to drama school in Cape Town.
After I graduated I was blessed to travel to Germany and different states in the US with the Handspring Puppet Company. Theatre has taken me all over the world from Germany, Japan, Indonesia to Sierra Leone. I was in London for almost a year and recently came back from a tour in Koln.
Where was your favourite holiday or time spent abroad?
With family right here in South Africa. I have fond memories of Mount Grace in Magaliesburg and a quaint house in Port Edward with a piano and private beach.
Abroad my favourite experience was when I was awarded a writing fellowship on Sylt Island in North Germany. I would wake up every morning to the sea and write all day, lunch in the sun with fresh seafood and local beer or Viognier and I’d watch kite surfers as the sun set.
Your worst experience on a holiday?
The first few days of Indonesia. We travelled the whole of Java on a bus and in the humidity. I had cold showers after the long hours of travel. We went on a bus trip that was supposed to take two hours and ended up taking 12. We stopped at a restaurant where we couldn’t drink the water but found out that they cooked with it, and most of my colleagues fell sick.
But Indonesia turned out to be one of my memorable experiences once I let go… the hospitality was amazing. The imam welcomed us into his home and played piano and we ended up singing. It was more liberal than I allowed myself to believe.
Your funniest experience?
When I arrived in Japan I had to sink my teeth into the role as Electra in Yael Farber’s Molora, so I hardly went out to see the city of Yokohama.
After opening night I decided to take a walk and I must have crossed at the non-pedestrian crossing and a policeman on a motorbike blared something out in Japanese on a siren and after realising I had no idea what he was saying he drove off.
I then went into a restaurant where I was struggling to communicate with the waiter about what to eat, so I resorted to pictures and pointing to what was on the next table.
He came back two seconds later and said: “It’s show time.”
The floor split open and a water feature of dancing fountains came out with lilac lights. It was amazing.
What do you avoid during a holiday?
Staying in. Negative South Africans, mostly in Wimbledon.
Best meal abroad?
From the chicken wings in Brooklyn at TGIF to the fish from Sylt on crispy German bread to the amazing food in Japan. The bakso is a tasty filled dumpling similar to dim sum with a mushroom I’ve never seen or tasted that you blanch in hot water at the table. But the best meal was in London at the Laurence Olivier Awards.
Your favourite place to have sundowners on your travels?
Give me a glass of great wine on the Rhine River and I am happy, or the lake in Stuttgart or ginger cocktails in Sierra Leone by the sea or the expansive sky with bright stars in Botswana.
What have you learnt from your travels?
That I want to travel more and for the rest of my life. I have met amazing, generous, and interesting people. Travelling is a must for everyone because it forces you to let go of prejudice.
Ideal travelling companion?
Is Barack Obama an option? It would be interesting to travel with that level of security and see the world through those eyes. I usually travel alone even when I’m with a cast. I love to experience a city from the locals’ perspective.
Culture vulture or adrenalin junkie?
Both, in the West End I wanted to devour the many theatres and book shops that were next to each other. In Berlin I went to an amazing photo art exhibition in a post office. I have been sky diving and surfing. I loved it.
Holiday reading?
Obama’s Dreams From My Father. The God of Small Things. Any autobiography.
Favourite drive?
Bakoven through Llandadno to Hout Bay, but in my defence I often use trains overseas.
The drive from Lobatse Border in Botswana where my father would take the long route through dessert to Zimbabwe.
Dream trip?
To take all my friends and family to the places I have been to.
As a seasoned traveller and flyer can you share some tips?
Weigh your luggage before you get on a plane. Read up on the place but meet locals, put yourself out there.
Where next?
Beijing, which I’m excited about.
Weekend Argus