Difference between revisions of "Isidlamlilo - The Fire Eater"
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Set in a downtown womens' hostel in Durban, it follows the story of sixty-something Zenzile Maseko, a partially disabled grandmother, declared dead by the Home Affairs' decrepit system. Zenzile, we soon discover, operated as one of the IFP’s most feared assassins (nicknamed Impundulu/The lightning bird) in the build-up to the 1994 South African elections. Charting critical events in the Natal's post-1994 trajectory through to its present day floods and insurrections, the story not only offers an insightful look at the eddying cycles of violence and revenge that play out across generations, but is foremostly a story of identity, redemption and resilience. | Set in a downtown womens' hostel in Durban, it follows the story of sixty-something Zenzile Maseko, a partially disabled grandmother, declared dead by the Home Affairs' decrepit system. Zenzile, we soon discover, operated as one of the IFP’s most feared assassins (nicknamed Impundulu/The lightning bird) in the build-up to the 1994 South African elections. Charting critical events in the Natal's post-1994 trajectory through to its present day floods and insurrections, the story not only offers an insightful look at the eddying cycles of violence and revenge that play out across generations, but is foremostly a story of identity, redemption and resilience. | ||
| − | The play | + | The play toured widely, with performances at Hilton Arts Festival, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Noorderzon festival in Netherlands, La Bâtie-Festival de Genève in Switzerland and Kampnagel International Summer Festival in Hamburg, Germany. |
| + | |||
| + | The text was published by [[Wits University Press]] in 2024, with a foreword by [[Kira Irwin]]. The play has received numerous awards,m among them eight [[Naledi Theatre Award]]s since its premiere. | ||
==Translations and adaptations== | ==Translations and adaptations== | ||
Revision as of 08:03, 2 May 2025
Isidlamlilo - The Fire Eater is a one-woman play by Neil Coppen and Mpume Mthombeni.
Also found as Isidlamlilo - Fire Eater
Contents
The original text
Set in a downtown womens' hostel in Durban, it follows the story of sixty-something Zenzile Maseko, a partially disabled grandmother, declared dead by the Home Affairs' decrepit system. Zenzile, we soon discover, operated as one of the IFP’s most feared assassins (nicknamed Impundulu/The lightning bird) in the build-up to the 1994 South African elections. Charting critical events in the Natal's post-1994 trajectory through to its present day floods and insurrections, the story not only offers an insightful look at the eddying cycles of violence and revenge that play out across generations, but is foremostly a story of identity, redemption and resilience.
The play toured widely, with performances at Hilton Arts Festival, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Noorderzon festival in Netherlands, La Bâtie-Festival de Genève in Switzerland and Kampnagel International Summer Festival in Hamburg, Germany.
The text was published by Wits University Press in 2024, with a foreword by Kira Irwin. The play has received numerous awards,m among them eight Naledi Theatre Awards since its premiere.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
2022: Premiered to rave reviews by Empatheatre at the National Arts Festival, directed by Neil Coppen and performed by Mpume Mthombeni
2023: Performed at the Market Theatre by Empatheatre, directed by Neil Coppen and performed by Mpume Mthombeni from 20 July to 6 August.
2025: Performed at the Baxter Theatre as Isidlamlilo - Fire Eater by Empatheatre, directed by Neil Coppen and performed by Mpume Mthombeni from
Sources
https://www.empatheatre.com/isidlamlilo
https://markettheatre.co.za/isidlamlilo-the-fire-eater/
The Baxter what's on January to April, 2025.
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