Dynamic acting duo create magical storytelling in Hayani

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Warren Nebe directs the two-hander, which he has co-written with Kani and Ramabulana, both Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans and Fleur du Cap nominees. When the play premiered in 2009 the dynamic duo created a sensation and received standing ovations all round.

Hayani, which means ‘home’ in Venda, is an original play reflecting on the meaning of home in the South African context since its transition, and what it means to be a South African. It tells the story of two young black South African males trying to establish themselves in a country that is yet to define itself. Their journeys begin with each of them taking a trip back “home” as they weave their personal narratives and try to better understand who they are. Atandwa goes back to New Brighton in Port Elizabeth and Nat makes his way to Thohoyandou in Limpopo (formerly Venda). Each journey navigates memories from their childhood and teen years, some painful, some funny, some awkward, but each one enriched by the detailed and honest portrayal of the two friends.

Respected arts writer Adrienne Sichel, in her reflection on the work, wrote, “The performers are consummate entertainers and gender surfers as they play each other’s parents, siblings and each other; thus turning the performance space into an interactive playground of very personal memory. The live music onstage sends the audience into a magical display of intimate and beautiful storytelling”.

Performing against evocative live music composed by Matthew Macfarlane and a striking set design by graffiti artist Mak1One, the story is vividly brought to life as Atandwa and Nat captivate and lure audiences into a magical display of intimate and beautiful story-telling, at once rich, diverse and vibrant.

Dynamic new acting duo Atandwa Kani and Nat Ramabulana create magical storytelling in Hayani at the Baxter.

 

“Home is where the heart is, is the central theme of the play”, says Kani. “Where is your true home? How do you find it? How do you keep from leaving it? These are some of the questions which we explore and deal with in Hayani. It is really the voice of a generation nearly lost and forgotten, and which is yearning to be heard. For us this is home-grown storytelling at its truest, a homecoming story which we hope will tug at raw heartstrings and which is honest.”

“We use these moments in our lives,” adds Ramabulana, “to take the audience on their own journey down memory lane and give them an opportunity to remember the moments in their lives that brought them to who they are and what they are now. In essence we are reminding each other that we are all the same and we are all just vessels of memory and feeling trying to make sense of the circumstances that we have been dealt with.”

Atandwa was seen at the Baxter recently in Sylvaine Strike’s award-winning The Miser. Before that he performed the role of Ariel alongside his father, John Kani, and Antony Sher in 2009 in the Baxter and RSC hit production of The Tempest. In 2010 Nat delighted audiences in the hugely successful The Girl in the Yellow Dress by Craig Higginson. Most recently the two have been praised for their performances in Athol Fugard’s The Island, which was performed at the Market Theatre and the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.

Director Warren Nebe is a former lecturer at UCT’s drama department, theatre director and drama therapist. He is currently the Director of Drama for Life, an international academic, research and community engagement programme housed at Wits. The play is presented by the Drama for Life Company Laboratory which is a project established by the programme to develop new, original South African theatre with innovative theatre-makers and performers.

Hayani is an act of hope; a play of healing; a conversation long overdue in our country,” explains Nebe. “The play attempts to invite all South Africans into a conversation about home, identity and the legacy of the failures of transformation. In a delicate, gentle mode of story-telling we create a home-coming - a space for audiences to reflect on the footsteps they have travelled in and the footsteps they have carved for future generations.”

After its Cape Town season the production transfers to the Market Theatre from 18 September to 27 October. The play carries an age restriction of 13.

Hayani previews on 8 August, opens on 9 August and runs until 31 August at 7pm nightly with a matinee on Thursday 14 August at 11am and Saturday 17 August at 2.30pm.

Ticket prices are R120 throughout and R100 for the Baxter Monday special which includes a meal with the performance. There is a two-for-the-price-of-one special for the Tuesday performances on 13 and 20 August. Booking is through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet.

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