THE return of the award-winning theatre piece Marikana- The Musical at the State Theatre this month marks 10 years since the massacre – that claimed 44 mineworkers lives.
The story looks at the lives of mineworkers and their families, as well as the events leading up to the massacre.
Celebrated playwright and director Aubrey Sekhabi brings to life the plight of the fallen family men who were miners but more significantly brothers,sons,fathers and uncles.
Sekhabi explores the setting not only as the place where the protests and killings took place, but takes the journey back to where the men originally came from; the village and the township.
He said he is excited for the production to hit the stage after its four year break.
“It is an important story, and for me to have to be able to tell it again is an honour and a privilege, but also working with this bunch of talented actors and actresses is such an honour,” said Sekhabi.
The 40-member cast and 13-piece band is led by stellar talent; Meshack Mavuso-Magabane, Aubrey Poo, Siyasanga Papu, Emma Mmekwa and Mpho “Mckenzie” Matome.
The musical is an adaptation of the book We are going to Kill each other today: The Marikana story, co-authored by journalists Thanduxolo Jika, Felix Dlangamandla, Lucas Ledwaba, Sebabatso Mosamo, Athandiwe Saba and Leon Sadiki.
The book contextualizes the events that took place leading to the fateful day under a democratic South Africa, where police top brass had decided that 16 August would be D-day to end the unprotected strike.
Beautifully painting the lively scenario of the mineworkers, refusing to be deterred from their wage increase demand of R12 500 by NUM president Senzeni Zokwana, an excerpt from chapter 3 reads:
“But the men were having none of it, and instead, with the sun forming a huge orange ball in the distant west, they raised their singing to the heavens.
“They took up the anti NUM song with gusto, plumes of dust clouding the air as some of them, unable to contain their emotions, rose and stomped the ground with their feet.”
Noting the importance the Marikana story carries for democratic South Africa’s history, Sekhabi encourages the youth to view it with an open mind.
“Some people that are 20 years old now were 10 at the time and they can be able to engage with work and understand what really happened…they can hear the conversations, they can share the tears and start the process of healing by watching the production.”
Tickets for the musical are available from Webtickets at R150 per ticket.
“The audience can expect a beautiful and emotional piece of theatre. They can expect a blow-by-blow account of what happened during those weeks building up to that fateful day,” Sekhabi said.
Marikana- The Musical received wide acclaim following its 2014 premiere, with it receiving 18 nominations in the 2015 Naledi Awards.
The production took titles including; Best Production of a Musical, Best Director (Aubrey Sekhabi), Best Performance in a Musical: Female (Emma Mmekwa), Best Set Design (Wilhelm Disbergen), Best Musical Score (Mckenzie Matome, Zakhele Mabena and Aubrey Sekhabi), Best original Choreography (Thabo Rapoo). Feeling there are too many memorable scenes to mention, Sekhabi said one of his favorite scenes are towards the end of the two hour play.
“It’s quite moving when an old man says he wants to cry for his son, even though men in his standing do not cry, but he should be allowed because he is the one who sent him to the mines,” Sekhabi said.
Sekhabi shared that another heart-wrenching moment is when NUM shop steward Isaiah Twala’s character- Mzi, is shot and killed because he was believed to be a spy for Lonmin’s management.
The production opens 2nd – 28th August 2022 at the State Theatre in Tswhane.
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