Have You Seen Zandile? (2008)

Produced by

AfriCan Theatre Ensemble

Playwright: Gcina Mhlophe
Director: Bunmi Oyinsan

Venue

Burton Auditorium
Workman Theatre
Equity Showcase Theatre

Run

January 30th, 2008 – February 9th, 2008

Synopsis

Zandile is an eight-year old being raised in a city by her grandmother who gives the child the great gift of stories and the magic to transmit them.  In return, the child gives the grandmother a purpose. It is not long before Zandile “finds” a girl her own age. The girl, Bongi, is a creation of Zandile’s imaginative mind. When not playing with Bongi, Zandile transforms her grandmother’s flower bed into a music class, determined to teach the sunflower, the violet and the marigold  to sing. Into this idyllic childhood a white car intrudes; it has come to take Zandile away. The kidnapped girl is forced into a new routine of rules calculated to turn her into a “traditional and proper” woman. Back in the city, Zandile’s grandmother looks in vain for the kidnapped child. Time passes. Zandile grows and her consciousness develops. As soon as she is independent, she goes in search of her grandmother. But is she too late? (africantheatre.org)

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Cast

d’bi.young anitafrika	Zandile
Joke Silva	Gogo (Grandmother) / Lulama / Old Woman
Olivia Duodu	Lindiwe

Creative Team

Gcina Mhlophe	Playwright
Bunmi Oyinsan	Director
Michael J. McLay	Lighting Designer
Michael J. McLay	Set Designer
Ayo Adewumi	Sound Designer
Michael J. McLay	Sound Designer
Akufuna Sifuba	Music Director
Mimi Amatu	Costume Designer
Teddy Masuku	Choreographer

Music

Akufuna Sifuba

Percussionist

Production

Ayo Adewumi	Stage Manager
Michael J. McLay	Technical Director
Liziwe Mahashe	Cultural Consultant
Liziwe Mahashe	Language Coach
Jane McGroty	Back Props
Jane McGroty	Scenic Painter
Todd Julie	Artwork
Niki Poirier	Crew
Chris Humphrey	Crew
Greg King	Photography
Remi Awojide	Photography
Modupe Olaogun	Producer
Karen Dempster	Publicity
Karen Dempster	Outreach
Liz White	Front of House

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