Theater in the Backyard Mobile Festival Online

THEATRE IN THE BACKYARD MOBILE FESTIVAL GOES GLOBAL WITH ONLINE SCREENINGS

 15 April - 15 May 2022

Theatre in the Backyard celebrates its tenth anniversary this year by going online. The immersive experience brings theater to the people by staging plays in their backyards. Spatial legacies have prevented access to theatre arts. The founder and innovator, Mhlanguli George has brought arts to the people. He has created accessible theatre by staging productions in township areas.

The Theatre in the Backyard Mobile festival independent theatre productions use people’s backyards. The audience and performers immerse themselves in the space to open up storytelling beyond a traditional setting. The plays uncover hidden, imagined, and original stories of the backyards.  

These performances were pre-recorded during live performances that were held in February 2022. It will now be available to view/watch the production online.

The following four productions: 

'Is He Mad? '

A story of a man who doesn’t want to accept the death of his wife and did not become himself ever since the story is developed from the monologue from the well-known play of Dario Fo called “Accidental Death of an Anarchist” and some of the ideas are coming from the newspapers such as “daily sun” the play deals with people who are ignorant about real issues in their lives.

Written & Directed by Mhlanguli George 

Performed by Lamla Ntsaluba

Choreographed by Theo Ndindwa

'Ilijwa' (The Curse) (originated in Mpumalanga Witbank/eMalahleni)

The pursuit of dehumanization raises questions about human behavior. This reflects how easy it has become to demonize someone without even noticing. We are slowly moving out of ourselves tracing the footsteps of our forefathers throws questions about our inheritance, which is, hatred, emotional absence, and curses due to one's identity.

Concept develop by the cast 

Directed by Mhlanguli George 

Performed by Mandla Masilela, Zinhle Masango & Sibusiso Skosana

'35th Miner '

is the theatre dance piece about the aftermath of the Marikana massacre, a story that captures a life of a young man called Thembinkosi. He lost his father during the Marikana massacre, this theatrical dance piece deals with a post-traumatic disorder of the families that are still in mourning of their loved ones.

Created & directed by Mhlanguli George

Music composed & Directed by Bongani Magatyana,

Choreographed by Xolani Rani & Lisa Wilson,

Performed by Siya Mvandaba, 

Singers: Esihle Phingilili ,Mncedi Mhlanga, Xolani Momo.

'Azania Was My Woman' (originated in Mpumalanga Witbank/eMalahleni)

An ex-soldier’s having a hard time coming to terms with the loss of his beloved he is distressed and borders between sanity and insanity, what aggravates him is that he is forced to move from his own land it is not well with him the current state of things. He feels robbed and unappreciated, especially for what he did for the country.

Original Script by Thulani Masango

Performed by Thulani Masango

Script developed & Directed by Mhlanguli George

Assistant Director: Moses Mashianoke

The festival is Funded by the International Relief Fund for Organizations in Culture and Education 2021 of the German Federal Foreign Office, the Goethe-Institut, and other partners: www.goethe.de/relieff and the National Arts Council of South Africa. 

We are counting on your support to continue bringing artistic expression to our communities. The arts are our voices and we need to keep it thriving.