The U.S. Mission to South Africa has announced its support, through a grant of R1.4 million, for the production of Paradise Blue at the Market Theatre taking place from 31 January – 1 March.
To commemorate Black History Month, recognized each year in February, the U.S. Mission has partnered with the Market Theatre to deliver high impact and thought-provoking theatre to South African audiences. This year marks the fifth anniversary of this collaboration, initiated by the Market Theatre’s artistic director, James Ngcobo, in 2016.
“We are tremendously pleased to honor Black History Month with this production of Paradise Blue. I am thrilled to be here during the fifth anniversary of the U.S. Mission’s collaboration with Market Theatre. I look forward to seeing this compelling and difficult story of the effects of gentrification come to life under the confident direction of James Ngcobo, and I think that South Africans will see an echo of their own struggles in this American story,” said U.S. Ambassador-designate, Lana Marks.
The production is a dynamic and jazz-infused drama by award-winning African American playwright Dominique Morisseau about what’s at stake when building a better future. The play captures the yearning of individuals side-lined by life into the role of second-class citizens living and working in a black neighbourhood on the cusp of obliteration as part of the city’s plan to eliminate “blight.”
The characters face issues that will resonate with South African audiences and enlighten them to the similar struggles faced by low-income inner-city communities. The Market Theatre’s production of Paradise Blue features a stellar cast of leading South African actors with Aubrey Poo in the leading role of Blue, supported by a strong cast of Pakamisa Zwedala and Seneliso Dladla as his fellow band members P-Sam and Corn. Busisiwe Lurayi will play the naïve Pumpkin and Lesedi Job the threatening Silver.
