Umbhobho – The Red Pipe is a research-based Empatheatre production, framed within the Grade 09 CAPS content of Life Orientation, in the Self-development in the Society pillar. It uses storytelling as its essential tool to deliver authentic and true to life narratives. It captivates its audience by using theatrical devices to thread these stories together, moving from one to the next.
The theatrical devices in use are tableaux, movements-embodiment, games and physical performance pieces. The performance aims to enable conversations around teachers pursuing sexual relationships with fifteen-year-old learners which according to the Sexual Offences Act of 2007 is Statutory rape. It calls upon the audience to engage, critically think of this concern and the implications it might have on the learners and their futures.
Upon experiencing this play at Nathaniel Nyaluza SSS in October 2024, an audience member commented, "I am still in awe of the incredible performance I witnessed izolo. The depth of emotion, the precision in vulnerability of your performers was simply breathtaking." (Nosi Nkwinti, Rhodes University Community Engagement, 2024).
Production Credits
Written and directed by
Siphosethu Mankai
in collaboration with cast
Mbali Mkhabela
Asamela Chauke
Stage manager
Siphosethu Jente
Choreographer
Thembani Buka
Part of the ASSITEJ SA program 2025
About the Artists
Siphosethu Mankai is a Rhodes University Master's candidate in African Languages Studies. She immersed herself in her undergraduate studies in the various dramatic disciplines: She excelled as a physical performer, Theatre for Young audience performer, applied theatre facilitator, an actor, scriptwriter and theatre director.
Mankai's notable works include: Don't Play With Play Wena (2022), which she co-devised and directed with her performance partner. Mankai wrote, directed and devised Umbhobho - The Red Pipe(2024) in collaboration with cast.
She was a cast member of the 2024 Orientation show RU Make Sure, which was directed by Makhaola Ndebele and devised in collaboration with cast. She is a member of Meqoqo Playback Theatre Collective and a member of ASSITEJ South Africa: Theatre for young audience.
Mankai is a pageant model who has collected more than one title to her name. She is the current Miss Tertiary Eastern Cape 2024/25. She is a student tutor for African Languages, translator and librarian.
She is one of the co-writers of a paper, "Kganya: Photography as Language for Story Generation in Applied Theatre" which is due to be published in a book titled, "Call and Response- Conversations on Artistic Inquiry" Editors: Refiloe Lepere and Karina Lemmer. Publisher: CSIR
- Venue: Rehearsal Room
- Location: Monument Building
- Ticket price: ZAR 100.00
- Programme type: The Fringe
- Genre: Theatre for Children & Young People
- Duration: 60 minutes
-
Ages:
14+
- V - VIOLENCE, S - SEX
- NOT APPLICABLE - Suitable for all ages
