Have You Seen Zandile?
Canadian Premiere
by Gcina Mhlophe
South African favourite poet, storyteller and dramatist.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT
HAVE YOU SEEN ZANDILE?
January 30- February 9, 2008
PREVIEW – Wednesday January 30, 8pm at Workman Theatre.
OPENING NIGHT – Thursday January 31, 8pm
African Theatre Ensemble presents the Canadian premiere of “Have You Seen Zandile?”, a much-loved story based on the childhood memories of South African playwright Gcina Mhlophe. The stellar cast includes Toronto’s multi-talented d’bi Young as the child
Zandile and one of Nigeria’s most acclaimed actors Joke Silva as her grandmother and Olivia Duodu who plays Zandile’s friend, Lindiwe.
Directed by Bunmi Oyinsan, “Have you seen Zandile?” takes us into the country of childhood and puberty and allows us to partake of its magic and sometimes startling realities. It shows us facets of South African history, life and social values which have tended to be overshadowed by the charged politics of South Africa's apartheid and post-apartheid eras by utilising an accessible story-line, dialogue, music, dance and storytelling from an authentic African cultural context.
Plot: Zandile is an eight-year old being raised in a city by her grandmother who gives the child the great gift of stories and the magic to transmit them. In return, the child gives the grandmother a purpose. It is not long before Zandile “finds” a girl her own age. The girl, Bongi, is a creation of Zandile’s imaginative mind. When not playing with Bongi, Zandile transforms her grandmother’s flower bed into a music class, determined to teach the sunflower,
the violet and the marigold to sing. Into this idyllic childhood a white car intrudes; it has come to take Zandile away. The kidnapped girl is forced into a new routine of rules calculated to
turn her into a “traditional and proper” woman. Back in the city, Zandile’s grandmother looks in vain for the kidnapped child. Time passes. Zandile grows and her consciousness develops. As soon as she is independent, she goes in search of her grandmother. But is she too late?
The play’s theme of the power of nurturing love and respect represents a significant shift from the persistent rhetoric of victimhood that has dominated the black experience in South Africa and other places and provides a positive and stimulating play to mark Black History Month.
In order to maximize accessibility, “Have You Seen Zandile?” will be staged in three theatres: The Workman Theatre (1001 Queen St. W) from January 31 to February 2; Burton Auditorium (York University) February 4 to 8, and Equity Showcase Theatre (651 Dufferin St.) from February 7 to 9.
Dates, Times and Locations:
Wednesday January 30 PREVIEW – 8pm - Workman Theatre (1001 Queen St. W.)
Thursday January 31 Afternoon Performance – 1:30 pm – Workman Theatre (1001 Queen St. W.)
OPENING NIGHT – 8pm – Workman Theatre (1001 Queen St. W.)
Friday February 1 Afternoon Performance – 1:30pm – Workman Theatre (1001 Queen St. W.)
Evening Performance – 8pm - Workman Theatre (1001 Queen St. W.)
Saturday February 2 Evening Performance – 8 pm – Workman Theatre (1001 Queen St. W.)
Monday February 4 – Wednesday February 6
School Performances – 9:30am & 1:00pm; Burton Auditorium (York University)
Thursday February 7 & Friday February 8
School Performances – 9:30am; Burton Auditorium (York University)
Thursday February 7 & Friday February 8
Evening Performance – 8pm -Equity Showcase Theatre (651 Dufferin Street)
Saturday February 9 Afternoon Performance – 2:30pm; Evening Performance – 8pm
Ticket Information:
Adults $25; Students, Children & Preview $10; Seniors and Groups of Three or more $15
Free tickets for teachers/chaperones!
Box Office: Workman and Equity Showcase Theatres
www.tapa.ca/totix or TO TIX booth at Yonge and Dundas Sts.
Burton Auditorium tickets and school orders, York Fine Arts Box Office: call 416-736-5888 or email boxoffice@yorku.ca.
General inquiries: 416 364 7313.
Tickets are also available at the door for all shows.
Media Contact: Karen Dempster, karendempster@rogers.ca or 416-364-7313
Info at: www.africantheatre.org.
Educators interested in this show are encouraged to see the Letter to Educators and the Ticket Order Form.
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