Heart of Redness Musical at the Fugard

Watch Cape Town Opera, UCT and Magnet Theatre graduates bring this vibrant adaptation of Zake Mda’s classic tale to life

Heralded as one of the greats of African literature, any student of fiction will be familiar with Zakes Mda’s famous novel Heart of Redness. Mark Fleishman and Thando Doni have given the classic tale a new musical twist, and the lively show will dance onto the Fugard stage from Wednesday, 19 until Saturday, 22 August 2015.

The musical also gives a platform to young emerging performers to hone their art. The play is presented by Cape Town Opera in collaboration with the Magnet Theatre with the intent of giving up-and-coming actors and actresses the opportunity to shine. Evocative and poignant, the story is as impactful now as it was when it was written and the cast do a stirring job of making the characters their own.

The plot follows a man named Camagu who returns to Johannesburg after living in America for the duration of Apartheid. He becomes increasingly disenchanted with the new democracy, which culminates in him venturing forth to the Eastern Cape.

In the nineteenth century, Nonqawuse, a young prophetess, ordered the Xhosa people to slay their cattle and destroy their crops with the promise that if they obeyed, their ancestors spirits would drive the occupying English into the sea. The Xhosa were split into those who believed the prophetess and those who did not, and these divisions are still evident when Camagu enters the scene 150 years later. When he arrives, he finds the clans arguing over whether to build a casino and tourist resort in the village, and he is quickly immersed in their dispute.

With lessons still pertinent today, the musical is a must for anyone with an interest in African-inspired literature and plays. If you’re after more entertainment from the heart of Mzansi, Shiza Ikapa at the Rockwell Hotel might be a good option to explore as well.

TICKETS TO THE 2015 HEART OF REDNESS MUSICAL AT THE FUGARD

Tickets are available from Computicket.com and cost R100p/p to R190p/p depending on seating selected.

The show starts at 7:30pm and runs for two hours with a 20 minute interval.

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