Mmabatho Montsho’s theatre debut to give intimate voice to migrants
JOBURG – Frontières kicks off Market Theatre’s Continental Season.
The Market Theatre announced that it was producing two creative masterpieces, Frontières and The Fisherman, to mark its Continental Season. Written by Bobby Rodwell, Frontières is set to kick off the season and is directed by Mmabatho Montsho.
Based on personal testimonies of people from other parts of Africa who have come to South Africa, Frontières paints a picture of why people leave their countries and the impact this has on their lives. The play stars Busisiwe Lurayi, Charly Azade, Khathu Ramabulana, Lindiwe Ndlovu and Tonderai Chiyindiko.
The production interrogates the ‘authenticity of voice’, as actors re-tell the personal testimonies collected and told to the writer by migrants from Zimbabwe, the DRC, Cameroon and Somalia. Frontières looks at how people respond to migration within the continent and speaks to the borders, both physical and metaphorical that divide our continent.
The production is supported by a grant from the Department of Arts & Culture’s Incubator Funds. The production is directed by first-time theatre director Mmabatho Montsho who has created a name for herself as a television actress and film director. She is mentored by visionary theatre veteran Bobby Rodwell, who has a long list of productions under her belt.
The Department of Arts and Culture’s Incubator Fund supports a series of programmes designed to boost the level of fresh young talent in the theatre industry and see more local content brought to the stage.
The season for Frontières kicks off on Friday 14 June and ends 7 July.
