A New Song encourages woman power

A New Song is the latest project to be produced by Masheane and her team at Village Gossip Productions.

While the stage production was first developed between 2013 and 2014, this project can be described as the culmination of Masheane’s 15-year career which came about from her need to tell the stories of friends and family.

The show darts between contemporary South Africa and reminiscences of South Africa in the 50s through the eyes of eight domestic workers who faced a lesser-known struggle at the time – the struggle of being mothers and having madams.

The show was premiered to a packed house, many of whom had been there to support Masheane through the entire journey of her career.

Before guests went into the theatre, toasts were made by various people who had contributed to the life of the stage production.

Masheane told the guests that it took 40 people to put the production together and concluded with pride that what she had done had effectively created jobs for 40 people – assisting 40 people to put food on the table for their families.

She also explained that it had brought her great pride to be staging a production in the John Kani Theatre, as she is the first female to direct and produce a play in that specific theatre at The Market Theatre.

She hadn’t been alone in the production and direction of the play, which she said she wasn’t accustomed to, as her previous productions had been solely directed by her.

“May we all sing a new song and when we all leave the theatre, may we all find our own song,” Masheane concluded, after which the guests made their way to the theatre.