Tradition and Modernity Clash in 'Tau'
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GET YOUR COPY with your JOBURG MR DELIVERY order from FREE Thurs-Sat each week YOUR FREE GUIDE TO YOUR FREE TIME 4 August - 17 August 2016 ÷ Issue 58 Legendary Russian clown on our stage – page 4 Ronan Keating to say it best in Jozi – page 6 - Page 3 Tradition and modernity Super villains to the rescue clash in ‘Tau’ in ‘Suicide Squad’ – page 8 Follow us online: @48hoursinjoburg www.facebook.com/48hoursinjoburg The Next 48hOURS • Socials Seen at the Cape Legends & Artisan Spirits Inter Hotel Challenge celebrated at the Belmond Mount Nelson Pictures by abdurahman Khan The Market Theatre and Windybrow Theatre will present ‘Tau’, the win- ning play of the 2015 Zwakala Festi- val, for a limited season at the Market Theatre, from August 11 to 21. The play is set in the Free State where cultural norms and traditional practices still play an important part in communities. The titular character Tau lives in a conflict of modern and traditional norms deeply rooted in African his- tory and mythology. His father is a traditionalist and a community elder and his mother a neo traditionalist with the ability to be swayed. Once confronted with this conflict, he em- barks on a journey of discovering his manhood, himself and his Sesotho culture. The story deals with sensitive cul- tural issues that have remained un- changed for centuries and are diffi- cult to question. It also deals with the taboo issue of homosexuality in the midst of a sacred “manly” ceremony. The play does not wish to shun the cultural beliefs of its audiences, On funerals, parties and supermarket promotions also very much present, is in a locked kitchen, the three hugging one an- cardboard. Really? All the big super- could have made these initiatives coffin. other, balling. The moment – as markets are doing this, I think? Not more lucrative, more in line with a It rained quite heavily on the emotional as it was and as tender as sure about Woolworths but I know social responsibility project. Some- Encore day. Quite telling I thought…show- it was, was soon replaced by a party Spar runs one whereby you can buy thing similar to the Smart Shopper ers that bless the departure as well as vibe where people laughed and ate, an Angry Bird soft toy for around card idea where one at least gets By Rafiek Mammon the genesis of the next phase of the and remembered the departed while R90 or something after you buy one percent of your money back af- [email protected] birthday girl’s life. And, in many re- celebrating those that are still alive R600 worth of groceries from them. ter shopping? Why not, we thought, spects, death is also the next phase – to live as full (and as happy) a life as It sounds too much like the Tom give the customer a loyalty card for the departed as well as for those possible. After all, isn’t that we ulti- Sawyer and the white fence story to where after ten purchases of the was going to talk about a day, who are living, dealing with the loss, mately really want? Life and death so me: if you pay me some money, I will same product you get the 11th one about two weeks ago, when we finding the means by which to close inextricably linked… allow you to paint my fence! I still free, or at half price…make it more had to attend a funeral and a the gaping hole that the departed So that was what I wanted to talk can’t figure out how this is an ad- worth the customer’s while? 40th birthday party on the same leaves behind… about this week, except, at a dinner vantage to the shopper? Or (and we liked this idea more) Iday – the similarities and the differ- So, as I said, I was going to talk on Friday of last week, the topic for I understand it is a promotion and why not give a small R5 voucher that ences of what constitutes “life be- about that until I attended a 60th some of the dinner talk was about that business works in a way whereby one can give to a car guard or trolley ginning at 40” and a departure of birthday party last week – where these useless animal cards and “min- we give you tons of money and you dolly (the people who assist one with a loved one: the one was a celebra- the birthday girl (woman) lost her iature groceries” given to us by Pick give me something banal back as a the shopping trolley and packing the tion, the other a sad farewell. husband to cancer not so long ago. ‘n Pay and Checkers when you give “thank you”. groceries into your car?). I would like to think that they Needless to say, speeches were very them R150 of your hard earned cash. But, the money spent on these Would that not be a better idea, are both celebrations – of someone’s emotional. I don’t know which is worse – the campaigns must amount to a pretty instead of (or in addition to) mon- life! Both had speeches, talking In fact, the two sons (one in his groceries or the cards. penny. So, why not share some of ey, you can then give them a small about the “guest of honour’s” finest late 20’s, and the other in his early So, I give you R150 and all you those pennies and possibly be seen shopping voucher which they can ex- moments. The difference, of course, 30’s) couldn’t get past the first few think it is worth is a small cardboard as a “nice guy” in business, and we change for something to eat? A win- being that the one is standing right words. “Happy birthday, mom” were miniature version of say, a liquifruit, gladly come and shop at your estab- win situation, we thought… there hearing it all, with an awkward the only ones they could really get with not even a wee bit of liquifruit lishment? smile on the face, while the other, out before disappearing into the in it? It’s just a small piece of useless We thought of ways that they EDITORIaL STaFF EditoriaL COnTRIbutors EditoriaL Address The Next 48hOURS is published by Managing Editor: Naushad Khan Jenny Morris Postal: P.O. Box 830, Rani Communications. Every effort has Publisher/Editor: Imran Khan Peter Feldman Maitland, 7404 been made to ensure the accuracy of Production Editor: Peter Tromp RoxyK the information provided. Editorial Assistant: Aisha Sieed Imran Khan Actual: 12 Main Rd. The Next 48hOURS will not be held Three Anchor Bay responsible for the views and opinions Senior Designer: Dane Torode Tel: 021 8024848 National Sales: Godfrey Lancellas [email protected] expressed by writers and contributors. All rights reserved. 2 The Next 48hOURS www.48hours.co.za 4 August - 17 August 2016 The Next 48hOURS • What’s Hot Indigenous production challenges sensitive cultural issues The Market Theatre and Windybrow is a brave story of a boy for whom Theatre will present ‘Tau’, the win- change and time are the only con- ning play of the 2015 Zwakala Festi- stant variables. Tau questions himself val, for a limited season at the Market as he questions the world, trying to Theatre, from August 11 to 21. understand the world and his place The play is set in the Free State in it; finding and losing himself in his where cultural norms and traditional friends, family and village. How can practices still play an important part you be like others when you are so in communities. different it scares you? What is it that The titular character Tau lives in really defines a man? a conflict of modern and traditional The Zwakala Festival showcases norms deeply rooted in African his- innovative indigenous productions tory and mythology. His father is a and provides audiences with early traditionalist and a community elder introductions to the future pioneers and his mother a neo traditionalist of South African theatre. This Mar- with the ability to be swayed. Once ket Theatre Laboratory initiative gives confronted with this conflict, he em- young community theatre groups a barks on a journey of discovering his prominent platform as well as pro- manhood, himself and his Sesotho fessional guidance to develop their culture. works. The story deals with sensitive cul- tural issues that have remained un- A scene from ‘Tau’ - Picture credit Suzy Bernstein Show times: Tuesdays to Satur- changed for centuries and are diffi- days at 8.15pm and Sunday at cult to question. It also deals with the 3.15pm. Tau will run at The barney taboo issue of homosexuality in the but wishes to ask people to look to calculated choice. types, exploring what women want Simon for a special ticket price midst of a sacred “manly” ceremony. themselves and whether they are Thabiso Rammala is a young rising and questioning whether culture of R95 and an added student dis- The play does not wish to shun abusing the power rooted in customs star author from the Vaal, who want- protects one’s identity, or whether count of R65. the cultural beliefs of its audiences, on the grounds of ignorance, or as a ed to write a play challenging stereo- one’s identity protects culture. ‘Tau’ book at Computicket. ‘Take it Home, Make it Home’ at Decorex Joburg 2016 Themed ‘Take it Home, Make it Home’, culine decorating. The Considered Home, Africa’s largest décor, design and lifestyle in association with Goodwood Co and exhibition will once again be the destina- presented by Decorex SA, showcases the tion of choice for those intent on turn- on-trend approach to modern-day living, ing house into home.