Echoes of Silence, Theatre
Venue: Amazwi South African Museum of Literature
Next performance: 27 June 2025 18:30
Preview
By Langelihle Elsie Skade
Echoes of Silence is a theatrical production by the Actor Spaces club, a group of young South African artists. Curated from scratch, the play serves as an artistic breakthrough and a social commentary.
Set in a two-bedroom home in Soweto, Echoes of Silence unpacks the silent struggles within a black South African family. The story moves between a rollercoaster of melancholic and joyful emotions. It reminds the audience that silence, although seen as brave and strong, can ruin one’s inner strength. Its main themes — mental illness, substance abuse, sexuality and unemployment — are a mirror of what a black community looks like on a daily basis. In the play, a grieving father turns to alcohol as a coping mechanism, while the mother hides behind religion to escape reality. Their son in a wheelchair, and their daughter who is unemployed after graduating, both suffer from physical and emotional distress. The supporting and lively characters such as the uncle, and his child, suggest that although a family can go through hardships and conflicts, there can always be room for laughter and jokes.
Asanda Makhaba, the line producer of Echoes of Silence, said that the cast hopes to achieve growth through performing this play at the National Arts Festival, as this is an opportunity to showcase their talent and to be recognised nationally. They also hope to convey a strong message to the audience, leaving behind a leap of faith.
“Even though our journey was not easy, the team showed dedication in preparations for the show. We started as volunteers at the Festival, and now we are finally part of it.”
