Hayani heads home to Jozi
NEWTOWN - After sold-out performances at the National Schools Festival in Grahamstown and rave reviews hot off the Cape Town run, Hayani is heading for Joburg.
Bringing with it compelling performances and a heartrending homegrown story of a generation nearly lost and forgotten, and which is yearning to be heard, Hayani will perform at the Market Theatre, from 18 September to 27 October.
The captivating theatre piece includes Eastern Cape born Atandwa Kani and Nat Ramabulana of Thoyandou, Limpopo.
Playing on the theme ‘home is where the heart is’, Hayani, meaning ‘home’ in Venda, is an original piece reflecting on the meaning of ‘home’ in the context of South Africa since its transition. The play explores the stories of two young South African men who both take journeys back home. In so doing they journey towards a better understanding of who they are and what it really means to be a South African.
While performing as themselves, the duo also expressively play a number of other vital characters in their lives. They masterfully weave their personal narratives against the tumultuous transitional years in South Africa. Along their journey they recollect their memories, painful, awkward and funny, of childhoods and teen years past, in an honest and enriching tale.
“After having had an awesome run in Grahamstown and Cape Town, to finally bring Hayani home is sure to be an exhilarating experience,” said Kani. “As Johannesburg is the central point from which both Nat and I depart (in the play), being in Johannesburg will give the production a symbolic grounding. We are extremely excited and cannot wait to be ‘home’.”
Kani and Ramabulana give powerful performances against a simple set, with only the sounds of evocative live music composed and played by Matthew Macfarlane, plus a striking backdrop by graffiti artist Mak1One setting the scene. Yet, these talented actors succeed in captivating audiences as they lure them into their magical display of intimate and beautiful storytelling; all at once rich, diverse and vibrant.
“We’ve had people of all races, ages and religions coming up to us after a performance and expressing pure joy and gratitude for the show,” said Ramabulana. “It’s heartwarming, it’s inspiring and it’s absolutely phenomenal. I can’t wait to bring it back home and share the magic of Hayani with our beloved Jozi.”
The show is directed by Warren Nebe and presented by the Drama for Life Company Laboratory, a research-based project aimed at developing young professional theatre performers, writers and directors.
Details: Computicket 0861-915-8000, www.computicket.com
