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City Hall, Pretoria, South Africa

12 Mar 2010

Something Magic Theatre Organisation

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I don't think the play has been published but you could try abebooks.com
or the playwright direct where their email is shown at the top of the page

music drama

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10

15

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The Music Drama "The cry of Winnie Mandela" is based on a novel by Prof. Njabulo Ndebele (Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town). It was adapted for the stage by Nymph Kellerman and the music was composed by Prof. Meki Nzewi for the University of Pretoria. Stage directing is done by Nymph Kellerman, Meki Nzewi and Jan Prinsloo, choreography by Kenneth Mmekwa.

On the back cover of the novel we read:: Ndebele portrays four women whose lives have been spent waiting for their men to return, like Odysseus' 'Penelope. They question themselves and each other about why they waited and what this waiting did to them. This leads them to imaginary conversations with Winnie Mandela, the most famous South African woman who waited for 27 years for her husband. In this groundbreaking work, Ndebele uses fiction to present a powerfully moving exploration of the experiences of black South African women. He blurs the borders between fiction and fact, between the novel, the biography and the essay. In the process he shows us aspects of South Africa and of ourselves that we have never looked at before. It is a remarkable achievement by one of South Africa's most talented writers." The Music Drama takes place in a waiting room anywhere in South Africa where the main characters wait for a bus to Durban. While waiting, they exchange life-stories. The music is an African instrumental ensemble with instruments that play distinctive roles to distinguish the personalities of the characters. The African contemporary instrumental ensemble consists of Djembe membrane drums, wooden slit drums, bass membrane drums, bells, shakers and musical bows. The work portrays Africa in its totality, a rawness from the heart of Africa and its sincere depth of ripeness. The audience will leave the theatre with an accurate and touchy African experience.