Corruption culture satirised
Zakes Mda play turns spotlight on corrupt officials.
NEWTOWN – The culture of corruption known as ‘eating’ will be explored on stage in a satire by veteran South African playwright, Zakes Mda.
The Mother of All Eating, directed by Makhaola Siyanda Ndebele and featuring Mpho Osei-Tutu and Jerry Mntonga, will run at the Market Theatre in May.
The actors will be accompanied by Bernett Mulungo on the piano.
The theatre’s Lusanda Zokufa said the culture of ‘eating’ had become synonymous with corrupt state officials who enriched themselves by abusing government funds.
“This evergreen play centres on a character called The Man, the principal secretary to a government minister. The Man is corrupt to the core, and has thoroughly enriched himself within the ranks of his government,” said Zokufa.
“He is the main figure implicated in a recent government tender gone wrong. The deal comes back to haunt him, causing his extravagant lifestyle to come to an abrupt end.”
Set in Lesotho in the 1980s, this must-see Mda classic exposes the greed, destructive mindsets and tragic effects of corruption.
The play was first performed at the Victoria Hotel’s Sechaba Hall in Maseru, Lesotho, in 1992, and from there, toured Europe.
In 2010, the play was produced at the Drama for Life South African Theatre Season, with the theme Honouring the Archive: Theatre, Memory and Social Justice.
The play then travelled to Botswana’s Maitisong Theatre Festival, and later returned to Lesotho, where it was again warmly received.
It was also staged at the 2012 Arts Alive festival in Johannesburg.
This production was made possible by a grant from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.
“The play may have been written more than 20 years ago, but it deals with issues that South Africans continue to experience every day, such as betrayal by those in power and the rank neglect of disadvantaged communities,” said Zokufa.
The Mother of All Eating will run from 14 May until 1 June at the Barney Simon Theatre at the Market Theatre, 56 Margaret Mcingana Street, Newtown.
Details: 011 832 1641; www.markettheatre.co.za
