Soyikwa Players

Soyikwa Players is a theatre company founded and run by Matsemela Manaka (1955-1998).

Also called Soyikwa Theatre, Soyikwa Drama Group, Soyikwa Dance Project, or simply Soyikwa.

The company

Founded by Manaka in 1978, its original members included Ronnie Mkwanazi, Danny Moitse, David Sebe, and Makarious Sebe. Although faced with limited resources Manaka worked with determination with the likes of Ray Hlongwane, Sibongile Khumalo, Maishe Maponya, Motumi Makhene, John Ledwaba, Ali Hlongwane and Job Kubatsi to found and develop the Soyikwa Institute for African Art (aka Soyikwa Institute for African Theatre).

They produced provocative and enlightened stage productions including Imbumba, Vuka and Pula which were presented at international theatre festivals in London, Edinburgh, Berlin and Copenhagen. (Tribute to Manaka written by Sandile Memela, published in City Press, 2 August 1998).

In 1979 Manaka's Egoli: City of Gold was developed "under the auspices of Soyikwa" and produced at The Space in August.. Also did Pula (1981 to 1984), *** and Domba: The Last Dance (1986) by Manaka as well as a number of plays by other playwrights, including Zakes Mda (The Road, Dead End, Dark Voices Ring), *** and ***. (see ) [**THIS NEEDS FOLLOW UP* See Steadman?*] Soyikwa: A company which presented Matsemela Manaka’s Vuka downstairs at the Wits Theatre in March 1986 after its run at the Market Theatre. ****

A folder marked Soyikwa African Theatre Productions (containing, previews, reviews, press cuttings, and information sheets on productions staged by the theatre) contains information on plays like Imbumba by Matsemela Manaka; the Shaka excerpt from Ogun Abbibiman by Wole Soyinka; Vuka by Matsemela Manaka; Pula by Matsemela Manaka; Children of Asazi by Matsemela Manaka; The Eve by Jerry Raletebele;

Other productions ascribed to them are Sego (The African Calabash) (1988),

Sources

Loren Kruger 1999. The Drama of South Africa: Plays, Pageants and Publics Since 1910. London: Routledge

Sandile Memela. 1998. Tribute to Manaka , City Press 2 August 1998

Percy Tucker. 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.

Soyikwa African Theatre Productions: Folder containing, previews, reviews, press cuttings, and information sheets on productions staged by the theatre.

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

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