By Farirai Dangwa
As we gear up to celebrate 30 years of democracy in South Africa, anticipation builds as the 2024 elections approach.
In celebration of these two milestones alongside their 120th anniversary, Rhodes University’s Drama Department puts on a play by the MEQOQO Playback Theatre Collective titled “Elections, Deceptions, Erections, Discretions, Deflections, Infections, Directions, Reflections, Obsessions, Recessions, Aggressions, Confessions…” at the Rhodes Box Theatre.
On 24 and 25 April 2024, the opening night saw a packed house, and the final performance also drew an impressive crowd.
The production was headed by Lalu Mokuku, the artistic director, with the help of Nine Magagula, the chaperon, and Merran Roy, the art therapist. The performance dealt with real-life scenarios provided by the audience and acted out by the student actors or, as they refer to themselves, the ‘players.’ The performance was a combination of the improvisational manner of Playback theatre and the use of shadow work behind the players, which enhanced the viewing experience for the audience.
During the performance, the audience was encouraged to describe their story or emotions in any language they were comfortable speaking. The players then acted out the scenes with passion and vigour alongside the musical accompaniment of a djembe drum, piano, shakers, rain stick, mbira and more. The combination of the performances from the actors, musicians, and shadow work artists heightened the scenes and added to the overall value of the performance. This type of theatre relies on the audience’s engagement, and as Merran Roy said, “I believe they [Playback theatre performances] are important because they give people a voice.”
As the 2024 elections are fast approaching, the Rhodes Theatre wanted to create an open dialogue amongst the students to help them deal with their feelings and emotions regarding the elections and much more.
As Mokuku states, “It was phonological, and it gave people space to reflect on participatory democracy and, most importantly, raise awareness towards the importance of voting. The art response and the shadow work enhanced the artistic merits of the performance.”
This performance theatre gives a voice to the voiceless and brings real-life problems and emotions to the forefront. One anonymous viewer from the play encapsulated the performance with the writing on the chalkboard outside the theatre, “MEQOQO IS OUR VOICE!”.
