Kingsway High School old girl grows on stage
It Grows looks at the complexity of life and love.
Simthandile Mtolo, 32, invites the Toti public to her solo music revue and multi-media art exhibition experience, It Grows, The Musical at Seabrooke’s Theatre on the DHS campus from 3 to 5 December.
It Grows looks at the complexity of life and love, from an honest and intrinsically personal perspective of a black woman working in the arts – created and performed solo by the performer and visual artist. Hear music that has been simmering for a very long time, that she wrote over the years, inspired by experience and emotions, which she has held onto waiting for the right time to perform. A time of introspection and creativity over lockdown has prompted her to take to the stage with it now.
“The songs are divided into segments that touch on values and morals, responsibilities and love, and are interconnected together with subtle comedy and interactive links.” She will sing live, and her music and lyrics are original. She is a seasoned songstress and multi-disciplined arts practitioner who has been a full-time creative specialist for 15 years.
“I’m very excited, but nervous because it’ll only be me and I haven’t been alone on a theatre stage before. Audiences can expect to sing along. I love live interaction, so they must expect to be part of the show. I have remained loyal to an authentic creative delivery and the importance of its relationship to an audience and I have spent lockdown nurturing my craft and adding to my body of work.”
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Simthandile was born in Newlands East. She attended Manor Gardens Primary School before matriculating at Kingsway in 2005. “I studied for a while, but left to pursue my own business in live arts.
School was stripping me of my creativity and I couldn’t take it. I have always been a creative. When I would get bored of singing, I design or create cool things, it’s just something I’ve always done. Nature, truth and reality are my muses.” She was living in Maboneng in Johannesburg, but since restrictions, the Bluff has become her new home. In It Grows, she will also exhibit a range of pieces she has been working on, inspired by introspective growth and the ability to acquire absolute satisfaction from reaching within. Her pieces use wool and printed fabrics, and mostly admire the authentic features of African women. She will also have her handmade bead collection on display.
Through her business, Ebonygypsy, she has produced several conceptual events such as The Township Jazz Society, which is an innermost jazz affair that features between eight and 10 jazz bands from around Durban that has showcased in venues such as The Protea Edward Hotel and Artizen Lounge. “Another is my annual all female production titled, A Woman, A Hat, A Bag, And Her Belly. This show debuted at the Catalina Theatre in 2011 and featured Durban’s greatest hidden gems in various performance styles, as well as some expecting mothers through an adorable movement piece and fashion show.”
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Anticipate a feast for your eyes while you enjoy a drink, compliments of KWV. Tickets cost R150 and are available at Web Tickets. Follow her on Instagram @SimthandileMtolo, @TownshipJazz Twitter @_Simthandile_ And on Facebook @SimthandileMtolo @TownshipJazzSociety @Ebonygypsy.
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