• About us
  • Contribute Content
  • Donate
Sunday, June 26, 2022
  • Login
  • Register
The African Theatre Magazine
  • Home
    • About us
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • People
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
The African Theatre Magazine
  • Home
    • About us
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • People
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
The African Theatre Magazine
No Result
View All Result

The Princesses of Askies Shem Street – not a story about dirty laundry only!

Tonderai Chiyindiko by Tonderai Chiyindiko
June 7, 2021
in Reviews
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterWhatsapp

The Princesses of Askies Shem Street written and directed by Khutjo Green is one of a four productions currently showing at the Tin Town Theatre (NPC) in Johannesburg with the others being Jefferson Tshabalala’s A Tribute to Ikas’ Lama Kasi, Masai Lepuru’s The Tragedy of Samuel Omunye and Ayabonga Makanya’s Induku.

With such a wide array of productions on offer the Tin Town Theatre (NPC) continues to be a space where “creativity meets inspiration” as per their motto and as evidenced by their strategic and deliberate the staging of freshly minted productions some of which are making their world premieres.

See also: Rose, a powerful, epic and spell-binding one-woman show.

A few of the productions on show have previously been showcased as ‘staged readings’ within the same space so to see them as fully fledged theatrical productions is testament to the ethos of Tin Town Theatre (NPC) and indeed other independent theatre spaces such as TX Theatre in Thembisa of providing platforms for the staging of new work.

Khutjo Green’s The Princesses of Askies Shem Street at the Tin Town Theatre (NPC) (Photos by Tin Town Theatre)
Khutjo Green’s The Princesses of Askies Shem Street at the Tin Town Theatre (NPC) (Photos by Tin Town Theatre)

The story of The Princesses of Askies Shem Street is set in a township laundromat and lays bare the lives of the various colourful characters who are part of this eclectic community. What makes the story vividly engaging is how it is so recognisable and how its characters are seemingly ordinary yet relatable people who are trying to navigate daily life and its challenges in creative ways.

Khutjo Green’s unmatched storytelling prowess is on show coupled with her refreshing directorial eye which makes the story sad yet beautiful, humorous yet serious and urgent yet routine. Each of the characters not only embodies their character impressively but further distinguish themselves by how their also have mannerisms (physical gestures) peculiar only to themselves.  The Princesses of Askies Shem Street is not a physical theatre piece in the traditional sense, but it does borrow though sparingly from that proud theatrical tradition and ultimately pushes its conventions further to tell the story this production needs to tell.

See also: Dr. Julisa Rowe: On Drama, Ministry and Giving Back to the Next Generation

Khutjo Green’s brilliance in creating and depicting the world of the play shines on multiple levels with the most striking being the costumes which depict an almost surreal yet on interestingly mundane environment. The sights and sounds of a typical laundromat dominate the narrative from the whirring of the washing machine to the splashing of water as garments are either rinsed or folded all of which sprinkle magic on an already captivating story.

The Princesses of Askies Shem Street’ was written and directed by Khutjo Green (Photos by Tin Town Theatre)
The Princesses of Askies Shem Street’ was written and directed by Khutjo Green (Photos by Tin Town Theatre)

The Princesses of Askies Shem Street also introduces the inimitable talent of Buhlebendalo Mda from leading acapella group The Soil who plays the central role of ‘Mamshella’, the likeable proprietor of the laundromat. In swopping the microphone for a monologues Buhlebendalo Mda does a splendid job and is one to watch as she spreads her wings outside of the familiar musical circles which she has reigned over with aplomb and grace.

See also: Billy Langa and Mahlatsi Mokgonyana on Pushing the Boundaries of the Craft

In the end The Princesses of Askies Shem Street is not a story of victims or victimhood, but rather of women who take life by the scruff of the neck and make it what they need it to be without allowing the circumstances they find themselves in incapacitate and debilitate them by taking away their agency.

The Princesses of Askies Shem Street was written and directed by Khutjo Green and features Buhlebendalo Mda, Luthando Lhoza Ndibongo, Sisekho Velelo, Tshireletso Nkoane and Mlungisi Wordsworth Tshobeka. It was on at the Tin Town Theatre (NPC) in Johannesburg from 21 May – 30 May 2021.

Tonderai Chiyindiko

Tonderai Chiyindiko

Tonderai Chiyindiko is a part-time arts writer and contributor. He holds a B.A honours degree in drama from the University of Zimbabwe and a Masters degree in Applied Drama from University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. He has been part and parcel of the theatre-verse both as an actor and director and more generally worked extensively within the cultural and creative industries sector in various capacities.

Related Posts

Tonderai Munyevu’s Mugabe, My Dad & Me (photos by Jane Hobson)
Features

In Tonderai Munyevu’s Mugabe, My Dad & Me, the Personal Becomes the Political

March 18, 2022
170
Blood Knot by Athol Fugard directed by James Ngcobo.(Photos by Siphiwe Mhlambi)
Reviews

Blood Knot, A 60-Year-Old Message

December 19, 2021
113
The Red On The Rainbow written and directed by Monageng 'Vice' Motshabi (Photos provided by Soweto Theatre)
Reviews

The Red On The Rainbow, A Brave and Important Play

December 10, 2021
215
Next Post
Percy Mtwa’s Bopha! At the State Theatre in Pretoria (Photos by Mpilo Zondi)

Bopha! arrests audiences more than two decades later!

What people are saying

More Reads

  • People
  • Opinion
  • Festivals
  • Reviews
ADVERTISEMENT

Popular Reads

  • Uganda's Theatre pioneer Elvania Namukwaya Zirimu

    Uganda’s Elvania Namukwaya who Broke the Glass Ceiling of Theatre

    887 shares
    Share 623 Tweet 110
  • Robert Serumaga: The Pantheon of Uganda’s Theatre in the ‘70s

    304 shares
    Share 122 Tweet 76
  • Namasagali College: How the School Became Uganda’s Arts Hub

    494 shares
    Share 328 Tweet 69
  • 10 Masterpieces in Ugandan Theatre

    658 shares
    Share 492 Tweet 69
  • Rose Mbowa of ‘Mother Uganda’ and Her Theatre

    400 shares
    Share 255 Tweet 61

Follow us on Twitter

Tweets by @AfriTheatreMag

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM

  • Did you Know ?#TheatreInAfrica
#AtholFugard
  • Call for Entries -  For the 5th Beeta Playwright Competition. ( For Nigerians 🇳🇬 )Theme: “OUR STORIES OUR VOICES”Win 1.5m in prizes, get your play published and produced !Nigerian playwrights between the ages of 18-40 are encouraged to apply.Entry closes on 30th June 2022.For more information, please visit www.beetauniveral.org.Cc Beeta Universal Arts FoundationThe African Theatre Magazine
#TheatreInNigeria 🇳🇬
#TheatreInAfrica
  • #AfricanTheatreSpaces This week we take a look at the Ebunjan Theatre 🇬🇲The Ebunjan Theatre is the first professional theatre space in Gambia, it was officially opened in 2011 by one of Gambia’s most  prolific award-winning playwrights and founder Janet Badjan-Young.Located in Banjul opposite the Gambia Football Association House, Ebunjan theatre was established with the aim of finding, grooming, preserving and exposing Gambia’s talent to the rest of the world through performing Arts.The Ebunjan Theatre is a large dome shaped structure which houses an auditorium and a balcony with a capacity of 300. The theatre also has an Art gallery, dressing rooms and a roof terrace.The Ebunjan Theatre hosts plays, poetry, dance, music, comedy, and cultural shows, workshops, award ceremonies. It has hosted  productions like; Gabriel Robert’s The Trial of Busumbala (2012), Wole Soyinka’s The Trial of Brother Jero (2012), Mystical Strings (2012), The Alien King by Mohammed Ben Abdallah (2013), D.M Larson’s Beauty Is A Beast (2014) directed by Sheriff Manneh, Women Of Owu by Femi Osofisan (2014), Janet Badjan-young’s A fatal Mistake, Let There Be Light (2015), Backway The Desperate Route To Babylon written and directed by Janet Badjan-Young (2016), A Raisin in The Sun (2017), Ngugi Wa Thiong
  • You can support that theatre close to you by purchasing tickets 🎟 🎟, and attend shows that are running this weekend.Have a great weekend!The African Theatre Magazine
#SupportTheatreArts
#TheatreInAfrica
  • Call For Participation 📢مهرجان الإسكندرية المسرحي الدولي/Alexandria International Theater Festival 12th Edition‎Performing Arts Companies, Groups, Independent Companies, Theater Makers and Artists! Are invited to participate in the 12th edition of Alexandria International Theater Festival -Theater Without Fund‎The festival will take place from 24-29 September , 2022, in Alexandria, Egypt.‎Application deadline: June 30, 2022, selected performances will be notified on July 5, 2022.Application forms 👉🏼 : https://bit.ly/3xZWME0For inquiries: Email: theaterwithoutfund@gmail.com
Phone and WhatsApp: (+2) 01553493449 (Ahmed Samir)The African Theatre Magazine
  • #TheatreThrowback: 1987The late Rose Mbowa ( poet, actress, playwright, and director) in the famous 🎭Maama Nalukalukalu n’ezadde lye at the National Theatre in Kampala, Uganda in 1987.📸 Photo courtesyThe African Theatre Magazine
#TheatreInUganda 🇺🇬
#TheatreInAfrica
#TBT
  • The Theatre term for this week is; Grips#TheatreInAfrica
#TheatreTerms
  • #AfricanTheatreCompanies this week we take a look at the Bakayimbira Dramactors 🇺🇬Bakayimbira Dramactors started in 1982 and it is still alive and kicking with the three founding members still together and active (Kibuuka Andrew Benon,Charles James Senkubuge and Aloysius Matovu Joy).The Bakayimbira is Uganda’s finest and Oldest most active drama company. A group of professional people who have delivered strong messages across society and all ages through drama.Bakayimbira Dramactors have won all the Possible Drama Awards that can be won on the local scene including the Uganda at 50 presidential Gold medals for outstanding contribution in the Field of art to 7 members of the group.The group was also named the Best Local Drama group by the Kabaka (King) of Buganda and were officially thanked by the King in the event of celebrating the Buganda Health Day that was held on Sat the 9th  day of November 2013 for their extraordinary fight against AIDS done in their Play Ndiwulira.Bakayimbira’s productions cut across society and they are for all ages and are remembered for their strong messages found therein because dramas are not written just for laughs but with a purpose of being a mirror of Society in bid to shape humanity for the better.Bakayimbira Dramactors have produced a number of  productions over the space of 40 Years and 3 of them are set books for students taking Luganda at “O”Level and University.The group  is more than a drama group, they have a real school called Bakayimbira School of Performing Arts (BASPA) which trains people in different performing skills.Some of the Productions by Bakayimbira dramactors include; Akasabattuko (1990), Kigenya Agenya (1993), Ndiwulira (1991), Mutute Nolwoo Lugwe (2012), Ndiwulira (2013), Dona Bella (2014), Baalagawa? (2016), Bongo Munsi Ya Bongo (2017), Agaali Amakula (2018), Majambere (2019), Bukedde Banyanike (2019), Amattansejjere (2020), Gayuguuma (2022) among others.Images copyright © by Bakayimbira Dramactors#TheatreInUganda 🇺🇬
#TheatreInAfrica
#BakayimbiraDramactors
  • #OnTheAfricanTheatreStage this week 🇧🇮Irivuga Arts Company and Buja Sans Tabou  present 🎭 Les Larmes de CrocodileA unique piece! Fruit of an intensive dance and theatre training with Le Grand CruDate: June 25th to 26th June 2022
Time: 18H00
Fee: 5000 FBU & 10,000 FBU
Venue: Buja Sans TabouThe African Theatre Magazine
#TheatreInBurundi
#TheatreInAfrica
  • #OnTheAfricanTheatreStage this week. 🇿🇼GRD presents Phantom🎭, rendition of phantom of the OperaDirected by Khally Sibanda
Venue: Zimbabwe Academy of Music
Times: 24/06/22 1800hrs
25/06/22 1400hrs
25/06/22  1800hrs
Admin: $5SynopsisPhantom is based on a classical novel Le Fantome de L´Ópera by Gaston Leroux. Phantom tells a story of a masked figure who lucks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. One of the main moral teachings of the story is that love between two people cannot be forced. It also highlights the need for every human to be loved. Those two concepts meet in the form of Phantom, who is a fierce, one-sided and possessive love for Christine forcing her to marry him.The African Theatre Magazine
#TheatreInZimbabwe 🇿🇼
#TheatreInAfrica
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

Become a partner/Sponsor our work. Email tuvugafritheatre@gmail.com

© 2019 - The African Theatre Magazine - Developer.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • People
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Donate

© 2019 - The African Theatre Magazine - Developer.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Donate
Contribute