‘Woza Albert’ returns to State Theatre

Mbongeni Ngema and Percy Mtwa, together with their original crew, have regrouped to stage a world-class form of protest theatre once more and they are headed to the State Theatre in Pretoria with Woza Albert! in March.

It has been about four decades since the creative geniuses penned what arguably would be hailed as one of the best plays scripted in theatre worldwide.

At the height of apartheid, the actors asked a question: what would happen if Christ returned to South Africa? They then developed a stage play, Woza Albert! with renowned theatre maker and co-founder of the Market Theatre, Barney Simon.

The production, a celebrated example of hard-hitting political satire, toured the world during the late 1970s and 1980s and played a major role in raising awareness and global support for the anti-apartheid struggle.

Woza Albert! explores how the second coming of Christ (Morena) would affect the lives of the country’s poor black people and how the white apartheid authorities would react.

The two actors, directed by Christopher John, present a compelling view of a multitude of black and white characters as they explore themes of race and class and expose the power structures of white supremacy.

The play concludes with a call for Christ to raise the dead heroes and leaders who fought so hard against apartheid.

State Theatre CEO Dr Sibongiseni Mkhize said: “Even in the current democratic climate, the question that was asked by Ngema and Mtwa during the days of apartheid is still relevant. There is a lot going on in our maturing democracy which arguably makes those who died with a revolutionary sword turn in their graves.

“Constant contestation over the meaning and direction of the new South Africa’s socioeconomic and political dispensation, the debilitating effects of corruption and relentless economic inequalities, are some of the things that perhaps await the second coming of Morena!”

Being the home of robust debates and uncompromising, hard-hitting theatre, the State Theatre proudly presents Woza Albert! in association with The Playhouse Company in Durban – where it started touring in December 2018 and sparked critical acclaim before it opened at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town.

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