Set in a cold and lonely room, a troubled woman reads through the diaries of six trapped beings, a traditional healer, a model, a mother and members of the LGBTQI+ community. Dressed in orange overalls, we follow their stories as they share how they ended up behind bars. Their unique narratives are connected by the single thread of gender based violence.
The stories of the diaries of the 053 Prison are told through live vibrant music, energetic dance and smooth vocals.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Creative team
Bisi Bangiwe Ka Jobela, Mkhululi Mabija, Tebogo Gxubane, Bennett Mojakwe, Ntlahla Nyiki, African Tones, Guilherme Duarte.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
House of MUPODAVI
House of mupodavi is a multidisciplinary production company specialising in dance, film, and immersive experiences, imprinting culture through the power of music, poetry, movement, visuals. Our collective of directors, artists and producers is merging creativity, innovation, experience and craft to explode the codes of storytelling across an ever-evolving media landscape. In addition to creating original and branded work, we empower and educate the next generation of artists to take charge of their careers through our signature Artist Development Masterclass programme. In March 2023 they coproduced a multi discipline theatrical production, The Orange Dress, which was well received in Kimberley, Galeshewe, Northern Cape.
In Association with
Amandla Dança Teatro ZA
Amandla Dança Teatro ZA is under the direction of internationally acclaimed artists Bisi Bangiwe Ka Jobela and Mkhululi Z Mabija. It was founded in 2010 in Hamburg, Germany by Bisi and Guilherme Duarte (Brazil). It is a multi award winning musical theatre academy based in Galeshewe, Kimberley that focuses on drama, poetry, singing, dance and music. In addition to the artistic programmes, it also assists learners at primary school level with their curriculum, i.e. reading classes after school, and in lieu of teachers teaching the Creative Arts subject, we come in and teach the subject and we also assist in life skills education.
Since it’s inception in South Africa it has produced seven musicals (Emathongeni/Big Hole/BahiAfrica/Umangaliso The Miracle/Umthombo/Mwana Wa Mvula/Nomapondo ) which boosted more than a hundred and fifty cast members in each musical consisting of children & youth from around the townships of Kimberley. In 2018 it scooped a Standard Bank Silver Ovation Award for Emathongeni & 2019 A Cut Above Standard Bank Ovation Award for UMTHOMBO at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda. In 2018 we received a recognition award at the National Golden Shield Heritage Awards. In 2020 we spearheaded the U19 Cricket World Cup which was broadcast to more than 1 billion viewers around the world. Our musical Mwana Wa Mvula won best Production at the Annual Northern Cape Awards in 2021, and we recently won a Standard Bank Bronze Ovation Award for Nomapondo at the National Arts Festival 2022.
