Pink Tax 

Pink Tax

Johannesburg, Gauteng – Theatre enthusiasts rejoice as our acclaimed production company, LWuD Theatre, proudly presents Pink Tax: An Epic Journey, an extraordinary theatrical experience set to captivate minds and move hearts. This groundbreaking production will take the stage at The Market Theatre from the 18th of October to the 22nd of October, and we’re inviting audiences on an unforgettable journey. Pink Tax promises to transport spectators through time, space, and emotion, merging the realms of reality and imagination. The production showcases the brilliant artistic vision of our director Noxolo Bhengu, who has carefully curated every element to create an aweinspiring production. Pink Tax is an intricate blend of physical and epic theatre.

Pink Tax written by Noxolo Bhengu delves into the harrowing reality of human trafficking by pulling back the curtain to the dark underbelly of this modern-day slavery. In a city called Ntozonke [everything], it’s safe and peaceful. Neighbours coexist in harmony and nothing out of the ordinary happens. However, the residents are unaware that it’s the breeding ground for syndicates who lurk in street corners and buildings, watching and plotting, waiting to make their move. They prey on the impoverished by promising them false employment, they lure naive individuals into traps disguised as free access to living lavish lifestyles. They manipulate people who’ve surrendered their trust as lovers and family members.

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When victims are uprooted from their homes, they’re taken to a strange place called Nantsika [thing] where they’re subjected to unpaid labour and other atrocities. Nantsika is an isolated and dilapidated toxic wasteland that is the source, transit, and destination for the third largest crime in the world.

Noxolo Bhengu’s gripping play uncovers a society where people have replaced objects as commodities. In this underworld, wealthy voyeurs sit in camera rooms placing their highest bids as they fight over the most sought-after purchase.

Pink Tax unveils the psyche of exhausted and distraught human beings on a quest for freedom. We witness how victims take a step towards reclaiming a sense of agency. They muster the strength to face an uncertain future while battling to accept their present reality as a result of their attachment to and yearning for the past.

We are delighted to showcase our commitment to supporting and nurturing emerging talent as this production features a talented ensemble cast of exceptional newcomers alongside seasoned performers, displaying the diversity of artistic voices in our vibrant theatre community.

LWuD Theatre has built a distinguished reputation in China for its commitment to excellence in theatrical productions, and Pink Tax is no exception. Our mission is to bring thought-provoking, emotionally gripping, and visually captivating theatre to our audience, and we are confident that this performance will exceed all expectations.

We cordially invite theatre enthusiasts, discerning critics, and the general public to join us for this unforgettable experience. Tickets for Pink Tax are available for purchase starting on the 19th of September on webticket.co.za We encourage early bookings as this production is anticipated to be a sell-out success.

For more information, interviews, or press passes, please contact Noxolo at 0739949320 or theatrelwud@gmail.com. High-resolution production images and additional press materials are available upon request.

About LWuD Theatre:

LWuD Theatre is a renowned production company committed to presenting captivating theatrical experiences to audiences globally. LWuD was created in 2017 in Shanghai, China. It has produced 3 original plays: Unpacking [performed in Nanjing and Shanghai] Pink Tax [performed in Shanghai and soon in Johannesburg] and Boxed, a children’s play which was performed in Nanjing and Ningbo. LWuD also provides creative drama workshops, After- school musical theatre programs, Theatre in Education workshops, industrial theatre, and summer theatre programs.

By upholding the highest standards of creativity, innovation, and artistic integrity, our productions continue to receive critical acclaim and engage audiences with raw honesty and authenticity.

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TEXT ME WHEN YOU ARRIVE

TEXT ME WHEN YOU ARRIVE

Text Me When You Arrive is a powerful, satirical and physical exploration of the plight of the everyday South African woman through the lens of a playful YouTube channel.

The three ladies explore how women navigate their way through the “rules” set by rape culture, patriarchy and social media in her daily life on her seemingly impossible mission to not get raped and killed in South Africa.

The play puts to trial the social media trends around gender-based violence and questions the practicality of such hashtags and the ability of the digital space to exert tangible change in the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa. Using physical theatre and satire, the one hour piece consistently engages its audience in order to create space for all of use to realise where and how we relate to the “rules” that “keep women safe”

CREATIVE TEAM :

Text Me When You Arrive was devised and written by the cast Aaliyah Matintela, Sibahle Mangena and Thuli Nduvane. The show is directed by Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi. MoMo Matsunyane and Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi have served as a Mentors & Contributors on the production.

A BRIEF HISTORY

A workshop presentation of the play was commissioned in 2019 as part of the Market Theatre Laboratory “30 Years of the Lab” alumni festival. The piece has enjoyed successful runs at the Ramolao Makhene Theatre, the POPArt Theatre and at festivals, schools and corprate

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venues. However, the piece still has the capacity to reach and change audiences with its strong and provocative message.

Through the various iteration of the work, the producers have observed that the piece has the power to engage audiences young and old, and to spark conversation on the topic of gender based violence. The identified best audience for this show is young people between the ages of 16 – 25.

LINKS & PRAISE FOR THE WORK:

POPArt Run (Audience responses) : https://archive.popartcentre.co.za/show/JAN_02_20/ Theatre Times Review : https://thetheatretimes.com/text-me-when-you-arrive-is-witty-punchy- and-hard-hitting/

Citizen Review : https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-citizen-gauteng/20200130/ page/17

Artsvark review : https://artsvark.co.za/the-harshtag-realities-of-women-in-south-africa/

CAST & CREW BIOS THULISILE NDUVANE (Cast)

Thuli Nduvane, is an Actress and Theatre-Maker from Johannesburg. Although she’s always loved theatre, she only began to pursue a career in the Performing Arts at the Market Theatre Laboratory after completing her degree in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Pretoria.

After graduating from The Lab in 2018, she joined the resident youth theatre company; Kwasha! Under the Market Theatre and Windybrow Arts Centre. Kwasha! walked away with two Awards from Standard Bank: a Bronze Ovation, as well as a Best Ensemble Ovation for their production Currently (G)old (dir. Aalliyah Matintela & Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi). Later that year, the company, directed by the TheatreDuo, staged Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros in collaboration with the French Institute (IFAS).

She co-devised the Naledi Award nominated satire, Text Me When You Arrive. The show highlights issues around plight of women living in the rape capital of the world as well as issues of GBV in the nation.

With a few commercials under her belt, Thuli shot her first shortfilm with Heartlines & Quizzical Pictures for SABC in 2022. She played the lead role of Melodi in the Fathers Matter film ‘Melodi’.

She currently works as a talent agent at Canvas Casting Artist Management based in Johannesburg.

AALLIYAH ZAMA MATINTELA (Cast)

Aalliyah Zama Matintela is an Actress, Theatre Maker, Director and playwright from Johannesburg. She is a graduate from the Market Theatre Laboratory, where she got a chance to learn different techniques and grow her skills in the craft. She directed and performed in various Community Theatre festivals and won stunning awards for her work.

Highlights of her career include performing in the Africa Day Spectacle in 2017, directed by Omphile Molusi as well as being cast in a supporting role in ’21 Wandah’ directed by Mwenya Kabwe in 2017.

In 2018 she was cast in a supporting role in the play ‘Platitudes’ directed by Nondumiso Msimanga. She co-directed the play “Marose”, which won Best Student Production in National Arts Festival 2018. She also directed “Currently (G)Old!”, which won a Standard Back Ovation at the National Arts Festival, and which was nominated for 3 Naledi Awards in 2019. In 2021 she

performed in Kgaube written and directed by Thabang Gabogope and “Text Me When You Arrive” which she co-created. She’s also done work on television, stirring in Adverts such as Consol and Chicken’Lickin.

SIBAHLE MANGENA (Cast)

Sibahle Mangena born and raised in Johannesburg. She is an actor, writer, and theatre maker and Naledi nominated director with an interest in body movement and text. She graduated from the Market Theatre Laboratory in Practical performance and theatre making in 2017. Her focus has always been on experimentation with the grotesque, play, emotion, physicality and vocal preparation as principles of embodied performance. Her main work is creating new work through devising, workshopping and improvisation.

Her repertoire of work includes several works such as, Umsebenzi ka Bra Shakes (The work of Shakespeare), Umthandazo, Keys to a Great Poetic Game, Houseboy by William Kentridge, Mandla Mbothwe’s HOW |Showing the Making created as part of different programs at The Centre for the Less Good Idea and Naledi nominated Text me when you arrive.

SINENHLANHLA MGEYI (Director)

Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi (28) is a theatre maker, director, dancer, choreographer and an actor who graduated from the Market Theatre Laboratory in 2017.

He began his performance training under the guidance of Howard ‘Brother’ Dladla at the Zase Laduma Art Centre in Mpumalanga. Following working at community art centres around the country, he joined the Market Theatre Laboratory.

Highlights of his performing career include roles in “Lampedusa Beach” (dir Raissa Bringi, Italy), “The Love of the Nightingale” (dir. Nondumiso Msimanga) and the award winning touring production “Hani : The Legacy” (dir. Leila Henriques). He also performed in “Rhinoceros” (dir. theatre Duo.)

As a director, he has been part of several award winning productions, including the winner of the Hillbrow Inner City Schools festival production “Thwala”, which he co-directed with Gcebile Dlamini, the National Arts Festival Student festival award winner “Pop I Cherri”, co-directed by Tumeka Matintela as well as “Currently (G)Old” which he co-directed with Aalliyah Matintela that won Best ensemble and Bronze ovation award in Makhanda National Art Festival.

Following his graduation from the Market Lab, he toured to the United Kingdom where he took part in a collaborative co-production “Encountering the Other” under the guidance of Clara Vaughan and Jaques de Silva. He then joined the Kwasha! Theatre Company, where he has been part of major productions such as “Error SA Comedy” (dir. Christopher D. Betts) and “The Little Prince” (dir. Mwenya Kabwe and Clara Vaughan). His currently a trainer at the Market Theatre Laboratory.

KHETHUKUTHULA JELE (Stage Manager)

Khethukuthula Jele is a performer, writer and administrator from Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal. She trained at The Market Theatre Laboratory where she graduated in 2019. During her school career, she had the privilege of working with directors such as Andrew Buckland, Mwenya

Kabwe and Mahlatsi Mokgonyana, to name a few. She was part of the devising cast of Le

Journal, which won the best actors and best writing award at the 2019 National Arts Festival Student Fringe. Professionally, Khethu has worked as a stage manager for the production Text Me when You Arrive and as a performer and brand ambassador for Tshepo 1Million.

An overall dreamer at heart, she chooses to focus her career and energy toward storytelling, embodying shared experiences and producing alternative worlds and realities that inspire hope and make us a better people.

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Windybrow rocks the Cradle with two dynamic new shows

Windybrow rocks the Cradle with two dynamic new shows

The Windybrow Arts Centre, under the umbrella of the Market Theatre Foundation, is excited to present two dynamic works at the Cradle of Creativity Festival which takes place in Joburg from 20th to 27th August: The Visitors and Skin We Are In. These are productions by and for young people, which aim to inspire youth, parents, and teachers to have challenging conversations and debate themes that are urgent to us now.

“The theme of The Cradle of Creativity is The Stories That Move Us,” explains the festival’s curator, Faye Kabali-Kagwa, of ASSITEJ. “It’s coming to Joburg for the first time in August, after two iterations in Cape Town. The eight days of performances, workshops, presentations, will take place at the prestigious Market Theatre as its main venue, which includes the Market Theatre Laboratory, and the Windybrow Arts Centre, but will also have select cultural hubs – the Sibikwa Arts Centre, Soweto Theatre and the National School of the Arts, as satellite venues. Theatre is a powerful way to engage big issues with young people, and these shows are geared to do just that.”

The Visitors, a new work by renowned international choreographer/director Constanza Macras, opens the Festival on the John Kani stage at The Market on the 20th August. This show continues a collaboration between Dorky Park and many of the young South African cast members of her successful production Hillbrowfication. In The Visitors, they dive into the fascinating world of slasher movies, a sub-genre of horror cinema in which teenagers are threatened and killed, while their parents and other adult figures are absent. Time and again the young ones must deal with the monsters on their own.

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Skin We Are In
The Visitors
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Re-elaborating on the codes and aesthetics of the genre in the specific context of post-apartheid South Africa, The Visitors touches on themes such as the state orchestrated destruction of family structures during apartheid times, and the persistence of a colonial legacy of bureaucracy and corruption that still disrupts daily life. But if the relentless return of the past is a characteristic trait of slasher cinema, so is the youthful protagonists search for tangent narratives out of it as they fiercely fight the monsters away. 

The powerhouse creative team includes Spoek Mathambo composing, Tamara Saphir as Dramaturge, Sibongile Fisher as dramaturgical advisor, Thando Lobese designing the set, Roman Handt as Costume Designer, Sérgio Pessanha as Lighting Designer, and Stephan Worhman as Sound Designer. Dorky Park dancers Miki Shoji, Emil Bordás, Thulani Mgidi and Alexandra Bodí as well as the South African performer and musician John Sithole, are joined by participants from the Windybrow’s after-school programme and selected young artists from Hillbrowfication.

Joburgers will get to see this international co-production first before it travels to Germany. Supported by the Goethe International Coproduction Fund (Internationale Koproduktionsfonds) of the Goethe-Intitut, it goes on to perform at the Ruhrtriennale Festival of the Arts, Volksbühne, Berlin and Kampnagel, Hamburg in September.

This production is also supported by the NATIONALES PERFORMANCE NETZ Coproduction Fund for Dance, which is funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.

Skin We Are In, the other production presented by The Windybrow Arts Centre, tackles conversations about race with young learners. It is based on the book by Dr Sindiwe Magona and Nina Jablonksi (Published by New Africa Books), adapted for the stage by award-winning playwright, Omphile Molusi, and brought to life by Kwasha! Theatre Company. 

Skin We Are In is about a group of school friends who learn about the evolution of human skin. The production transforms the valuable research and content that already exists in the book into a truly engaging and important piece of theatre, to allow more young people, teachers, and parents, to change the conversation about skin colour, to grow healthier attitudes. “Dr Magona notes that science has been abused to create devastating laws that judge and discriminate based on skin colour, when in reality skin colour is, “only 0,001% (1000th of a percent) of where humans come from.”

Performing to 12- to 15-year-olds (Grades 6 to 9) since March this year, the play has been welcomed by teachers as it offers a great adjunct to the book, which is sold alongside the production and is available in all 11 official languages. “Exceptional actors brought very relevant rights-based queries to our grades 6 and 7 group,” commented one teacher from Auckland Park Preparatory School. “This was done gently, intelligently and with great empathy, enabling and phenomenal critical thinking exercise and discussion afterwards. Phenomenal and exceptional execution.”

Skin We Are In, challenges the way skin colour has been used negatively throughout history and especially in Apartheid South Africa. If parents wanted to have these conversations with their children, they’d be advised to avoid the idea that children can’t see skin colour. Rather, they should unpack ideas like social construct vs skin colour, race vs skin colour, how terminology creates categories, issues of control and power, as well as the fact that diversity and variation are essential for our survival.

These complex ideas are brought to life by the writers and the production team. The production is directed by Mosie Mamaregane with Dr. Refiloe Lepere as mentor, Bokang Ramatlapeng as Musical Director and Nomzamo Molaba as Designer. The dynamic Kwasha! Team this year consists of Ngwedi Ramphele, Sinegugu Mdluli, Ndonie Ntshiza, Sanele Philips, Azande Mkhungo.

Schools and parents are urged to book tickets for these shows soon.

Booking at Webtickets & Quicket

Skin We Are In
The Visitors
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Africa Month music extravaganza!

The Brother Moves On to headline the Windybrow Arts Centre Africa Month music extravaganza!

The Windybrow Arts Center month long Africa Month celebrations will close on Saturday 28 May musical note full of rich African culture and vibrancy. The month of May is recognized as Africa Month – a time when Africa is in a quest for the unity of the continent and for the political and economic emancipation of its people.

The Windybrow Arts Centre has curated a series of events for the month under the theme Flipping the Globe!

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Music Flip will be a day for the family to enjoy an exciting line-up of music, local food and craft stalls. The day will host upcoming artists from across the continent and a closing performance from internationally renowned band The Brother Moves On. An original composition in collaboration with the Windybrow choirs and The Brother Moves On will have its debut at the event.

The music will take festival goers on a melodic African beat ride. The music is a dramatic showcase of the continent and its beautiful people. Adding flavor to the already hot line up is the African cuisine that will be on offer on the day to delight festival goers. 

Music Flip’s Line up: The Brother Moves On, The Friendly Drummers, Femi Koya and Emmanuel Paul.  

Not sure where this should go? Join us at 1pm at the Windybrow Arts Centre. Free parking at the Catholic Cathedral – across the road from Windybrow.

The Brother Moves On is a music installation and performance art collective that embraces the multi-aesthetic, multi-disciplinary concept of a collective happening to new spaces and places. The Brother’s sound is a tradition trouncing trans-Atlantic Afro-centric futuristically ancient fusion that jack knifes between off world spectral dub-metal, hyper rhythmic rock psychedelia, indie township and astro-afro-free-jazz continues the Pan African Space Station.

World Afrobeat Music composer and performer, versatile saxophonist and dynamic vocalist,  Femi Koya is the new face of the African Renaissance, combining West African highlife and Jazz,  South African Sophiatown with a nostalgic Afrobeat root sounds, his music is a rich blend of deep and sultry Afrobeat and contemporary groove. This musical fusion demonstrates the path to a new and culturally integrated Africa in which a common heritage is reinforced to meet the needs of today’s world.

Emmanuel Paul is a bassist, composer and band leader who is based in Johannesburg.  He developed a great love for the bass at an early age, singing recorded bass lines on recordings by the great masters such as Fela Kuti, James Brown and the Yellow Jackets. He is constantly expanding his talent  through the pursuit of knowledge.

Join the festivities for as little at R80 and R50 for students – unlock the African beat in you!

Good music goes with good food!

Tickets be sold via www.webtickets.co.za or to make block bookings and discounts please contact Anthony Ezeoke 011 832 1641ext 203/ 083 246 4950 or Bandile Luvalo 078 4344 860.

For interviews and images please contact:

Lusanda Zokufa, Senior Publicist or Desmond Mathebula – Publicity Intern Market Theatre Foundation 011 832 1641 ext 123/204  or 072 367 7867/ 062 329 4741

lusandaz@markettheatre.co.za / desmondm@markettheatre.co.za

16 days of Activism

16 Days of Activism

The 25th of November marks the beginning of 16 days of Activism, a global movement that calls upon the nation to be advocates and activists against issues that affect us on a daily such as gender-based violence, discrimination and hate against our fellow citizens. As part of the 16 days, 4 international days of commemoration are branched under the umbrella of the movement, these are; International day of no violence against women, International Human Rights day, World aids day and the International day for people with disabilities.

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