The Baby is Crying, Theatre
Venue: Masonic Front
Next performance: Friday 4 July 10:00
Preview
By Nomfundo Mbatha
Set against the brutal backdrop of apartheid South Africa in 1982, The Baby is Crying is a bold and emotionally charged three-hander political play that delves into the shadows of exile. Inspired by true events, the story follows three young Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) cadres who tragically lost their lives during a shoot-out with the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Manzini. It is not only a reimagining of a forgotten moment in the struggle, but a heartfelt tribute to the thousands who never made it home.
Written by Brilliant Mthethwa and directed by Wandile Nodliwa, the play boldly explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, memory, and sacrifice. Mthethwa drew inspiration from Kill Zuma by Any Means Necessary, a provoking book written by South Africa’s current Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie. The book inspired Mthethwa to reflect on how power, politics, and personal conviction intersect and what is lost in the process.
But making this story came with emotional and creative conflict. “At times, I was not sure if I had the right to tell this story,” Mthethwa said. “It felt too heavy, too raw, too real.” He debated whether or not to go through with the project, given its historical weight and the pain it would reopen. What ultimately grounded him was the mentorship of the late theatre legend Mbongeni Ngema, who encouraged him to honour the truth and carry the story forward with integrity, not worrying about whether he would get funding or not.
In a country still dealing with remembering its past, The Baby is Crying serves as an urgent reminder of the lives sacrificed for freedom and the complex truths that continue to echo decades later. This is not just a play. It’s an act of remembrance. A conversation starter. A cry that still remains in South Africa’s conscience.
As audiences prepare to witness this production, they will be confronted not only by the horrors of apartheid, but by the resilience of those who fought back and the stories that still demand to be told.
