Directed by: Mkhululi Mabija, Thumamna Sibhozo and Buyile Geza

Choreography: Simvuyele Hala

Musical Direction: Mava Gqeba

Dramaturgy and original concept: Ingrid Wylde

CAST

Abulele Sidawu, Agcobile Tutu, Alupheli Gidi, Aluve Ncita, Amahle Thywakathi, Aminathi Kayana, Asemahle Boniwe, Avene Geza, Buhle Thobela, Entle Hiya, Glory Serafin, Hlalanathi Mbunyuza, Ivakhele Kweta, Kamva Magadla, Khwezi Capa, Landa Kedama, Lingomso Willen, Masibulele Dyakophu, Mihlali “Rizzy” Mshumayeli, Minentle Tanda, Odeiyah Sogcwayi, Omhle Xeliwe, Owethu Mema, Phawulotando Geza, Phinduvuye Selemela, Sanele Mntlaka, Sinowethu Nocingo, Siyamthanda Ntuli, Yakha Mlali, Yibanathi Bambata, Yakupha Hada

INGRID WYLDE trained at Birmingham and Manchester Universities, UK, completed her MA at Wits University and is currently doing her Phd at Rhodes University. An acclaimed director, writer and producer, her work constantly explores the use of site-specific theatre and notions of identity, reworking classics to speak for the present and creating work that tackles social issues. She has directed work throughout South Africa and her work has featured extensively at Festivals, both fringe and main programmes and in the UK. Productions include, Three Sisters, The Bear, A little Pride and Prejudice, Four (writer and director) The First South African, Medea, amleth/hamlet house, Overruled, Pucks’s Story, The Mysteries, Frogs( co-writer and director),Plots, Iron Love (adaptation of Marguerite Poland’s Novel, Film in development) Thrash (Canadian Collaboration), and 4.48 Psychosis, (SA Premier) She has worked extensively with UBOM! Eastern Cape Drama Company, both writing and directing shows such as Kwela Time, Inkwenkwezi and the 10 Tsotsi’s, Fundisa’s Fabulous Adventure and Sandile as part of the Amathole Heritage Series for the Department of Environment and Tourism. The Human Voice (La Voix Humaine) in a double bill with A Woman Alone (2010). Princess Emma/Ukuzazi in conjunction with isiXhosa Poet Amanda Nodada selected for the UK National Theatre New African play series 2011, 2012 National Arts Festival Curated Programme. Wednesday Night a PANSA/NLDTF finalist, NAF( 2013) 969 Festival (2013) My Weight and Why I carry it - Silver Ovation Award NAF (2022). ENYOBENI, Rhodes University 2023. Lecturer 2001-2002 University of the Witwatersrand. 2003 – 2022 part time Lecturer Rhodes University Drama Department. Presented papers at conferences nationally and internationally.

2025

Mkhululi Z. Mabija graduated from Tshwane University of Technology witha BA in Musical Theatre Performance (2006) and from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with an MFA in Musical Theatre Writing (2010). At the age of twenty-four, he became the youngest adjunct professor at New York University teaching a course called "South African Culture throughHistory, Art and Media". Mkhululi has written operas with composers Angelique Mouyis (Bessie: The Blue-Eyed Xhosa) and Robert Fokkens(Bhekizizwe). Mkhululi has written musicals with composers Paul Castles(The Road Between the Desert and the Ocean and The Call) Broadwaybound(Goddess) with Michael Thurber and Saheem Ali; Dewey Fleszar (Lett Rain); Sooyeon Lee (On The Wall); BLK JKS (Mongezi); Bokani Dyer (MyDaughter/Son); dance musicals with Monwabisi Bangiwe (Emathongeni, BahiAfrica, Big Hole, Mangaliso, Umthombo, Mwana Wa Mvula,Nomaphondo and The Orange Dress) and Zwai Bala (Tsotsi and Nkwenkwezi). He directed Moagi Modise’s plays; Clues on the Sand,Sephiri sa Kgosi, Emsini and Galg. He alsowrote the play The Battle of Lurwayizo. He also directed the African premiere of The Lion King Jr forthe National Children’s Theatre and Disney Theatricals. He recently produced his first feature film Poachers Moon, which is  currently in post-production.

Awards include Yip Harburg Award for Best Lyricist (2009, 2010), Really Useful Group Award and The Eugene O’Neill Award for Musical Theatre2013). In 2015, and 2021, Mkhululi was selected by the Mail and GuardianNewspaper as one of South Africa’s Top 200 Young South Africans. In 2016,GQ Magazine selected Mkhululi as one of their 20 Game Changers alongside Elon Musk and James Corden. Mkhululi was awarded the ImpACT Award for
Theatre in 2016. He was awarded The Ovation Awards for the followingshows at Makanda National Arts Festival; Mwana Wa Mvula (Gold-2024);Emsini (Gold -2022); Emathongeni (Silver-2018); Nomaphondo (Bronze-2022); Umthombo (Cut Above Award-2019) In 2021, Mkhululi was recognised as Sunday World Newspaper’s Top 100 Unsung Heroes. He is theco-founder of the Kimberley Book Fair, Kimberley Festival of Beer and Amandla Danca Teatro ZA. He recently completed residencies at Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Study and at the Johannesburg Institute of Advanced Study.

Mava Gqeba is an award-winning singer, actor, musical director, and creative arts practitioner shaping contemporary South African performance. As the founder of Living Glory Entertainment, he has produced bold, genre-blending works such as Faith in Love and If Jazz Be the Food of Love, earning multiple Standard Bank Ovation Awards and recognition at the National Arts Festival. A graduate of the University of Fort Hare with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Vocal Performance, Mava combines strong academic grounding with artistic innovation. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Music, critically examining how the South African music industry both marginalises and benefits from Black queer artistry, with a focus on Lundi Tyamara, Brenda Fassie, and Nakhane Touré.

Beyond performance, Mava’s work is rooted in development and impact. He leads the Artistic Youth Program, an arts initiative dedicated to nurturing emerging talent and expanding access to creative education, while also working as a musical director across productions. He is currently touring his original production, Dear Tata… What Makes a Man a Man, a powerful exploration of identity, masculinity, and healing. Through his interdisciplinary practice, Mava creates work that is emotionally resonant, socially relevant, and strategically positioned to influence both local and global arts landscapes.

Thumamna Sibhozo (25) is a multi-faceted artist hailing from the Eastern Cape where he trained in Drama at Rhodes University. With over 15 years of theatre experience, he has showcased his talent on stages across South Africa. He is currently on air daily on Keith Ngesi Radio, where he hosts the Weekly Drive Show from 15:00 to 18:00. Now based in Johannesburg, Sibhozo is pursuing his comedy career. He recently featured in the 2026 Savanna Newcomer Comedy Showcase, as well as the 30th edition of the KKNK Festival, where he toured his one-hour special, Emotional Black Male. The show will also be performed at the National Arts Festival in June 2026.

Buyile Geza was born in Duncan Village in East London in the Eastern Cape Province (SA). He started his career at the age of 18 in 2004 when he joined Gompo Arts Centre. In (2005), he joined a SANCA programme to educate young children in schools with drug and alcohol issues. He completed a course with a certificate in Drug Information; Assertiveness & Peer Pressure; Basic Counselling Skills and Public Speaking. In 2007, he obtained a gold certificate in performing arts as a dancer at the Guild Theatre. He was introduced to drama by the late Ncedo India, a dance and drama teacher.  At the National Arts Festival he was scouted by Mr. Bongani Linda of Victory Sonqoba in 2009 and travelled to Oldenburg, Germany. He wrote, co-wrote and directed Theatre pieces “King Zwelonke”;“My grandfather’s dancing shoes”; “The Three Lost Sheep”; “The Elite of 1952 in Duncan Village”; “My Journey”; “The Battle of Lurhwayizo” . He also worked on productions such as “The Story Of African Choir”; “Pantsula for life”; “Hip Pantsula Jaive”; “I AM” and “Nongqawuse”. He worked with a promoting company Expressive which landed a deal with ABSA promoting all around the Eastern Cape. In 2018 he established a Non-profit Organisation (NPO) named HIP-HOP REVOLUXION. That is where he now voluntarily transfers his skills and experiences in teaching young children dancing, choreography and acting at the Gompo Arts Centre. In 2020 he had a role in the movie “Knuckle City”, a Yellow Bone Entertainment production.  Currently he is part of the provincial annual talent competition hosted by Battle of Municipality Talent Search (BOM) as an adjudicator in Dance, Drama and Poetry Category. Nurturing young talents in performing arts at Gompo Arts Centre. He believes that this world is bigger than one sees and opportunities are still yet to come and he is ready for them to learn even more.

Simvuyele Hala aka "Simz-ADV" is a South African Performing Artist, a Dancer; a Performer; Choreographer; Facilitator; and Dance Teacher. He was born in Mdantsane and studied at MIDM (Moving Into Dance Mophatong) in Newtown, Johannesburg in 2019, where he achieved his NQF Level 4 Qualification in Performing Arts majoring in Dance.

Fully competent and constantly excelling in all 3 sectors where dance is found which are Street; Corporate; and Theatre. His biggest traits as a dancer are versatility and excellence (ability to excel), as a choreographer his outstanding traits amongst others are conceptualizing storylines; creative movement; conscious use of dance elements in choreography; and interpretation of movement and music. Amongst some of his traits as a performer, his ability to adapt to any kind of dance genre; attention to detail; quickness to grasp choreography; unlimited stamina; being able to embody a work of choreography; execution of technique in movement; and ability to perform a piece with consistency in energy is what gained him recognition from DSRAC (Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture); ECPACC (Eastern Cape Provincial Arts and Culture Council) and a scholarship from MIDM (Moving Into Dance Mophatong). After he graduated at MID he was called back by MID a week after his graduation to perform in a new Absa advert with the MID company members, the advert was shot in over 10 different locations all around Johannesburg. Simz started dancing in the streets, in Krump sessions and battles. In December 2008 and 2009 he performed with HTB at the Mdantsane City Carnival; in June 2009 he came in 2nd place with HTB at the Battle Of The Year in Guild Theatre; and then in 2010 he won the Fatal4Way Tournament with HTB in Parkside. In 2012 February  Simvuyele with Labtronic Cyborggz Fam won the Fatal4Way Tournament In June 2014 Simz went to train with Senzo "Verb" Bhengu in Durban. In July 2014 he was selected as part of the Eastern Cape Top 4 Krumpers to represent the Eastern Cape in Durban coming 1st.  In the 2018 festive season he performed at the Motsepe Foundation Concert; performed at the Eastern Cape Provincial Arts & Culture Awards; and performed at the Buyel'Ekhaya. A finalist at the Trufm Trutalent Search and performed at the 2018 Trufm Awards also performing as a backup dancer for gospel singer Israel Mosehla in that same event. He choreographed and won the 2018 Mdantsane City Mall Talent Search with The Unstoppable Youth. He has been teaching dance and choreography to schools, dance Groups and at the Gompo Arts Centre.