Sarafina! The Broadway Hit Musical returns to the Joburg Theatre
Joburg Theatre is re-staging the award winning production and renowned Broadway hit SARAFINA! - directed by Nhlanhla Ngema. The show will be staged to inspire and encourage young people while celebrating South Africa’s she-roes of the struggle during Women’s month.
Sarafina! is one of South Africa’s most iconic symbols of the struggle for social and political freedom and justice. The show was conceived and directed by Dr. Mbongeni Ngema who has written and arranged the music and lyrics with additional songs by Hugh Masekela.
What is Sarafina About?
This historical musical takes place at Morris Isaacson High School in Soweto, where in 1976, about 200,000 black students assembled to protest against government decree that imposed the “official” language of Afrikaans as the new medium of instruction in their classes, instead of their own African languages. The police and army came to break up the crowd, and many children were injured and killed, through story, song and dance, Sarafina follows the activities of a fictional class at today’s Morris Issacson against the backdrop of students revolting against Afrikaans being used as a medium of instruction.
This proudly South African musical deals with the radicalisation of a young school girl, Sarafina, who becomes embroiled in the riots and is tortured by the South African Police. She inspires her classmates with her commitment to the struggle against the government. In the musical’s explosive finale the students present a class play about the symbolic Day of Liberation they all dream of when their hero, Nelson Mandela is released after more than 27 years in prison.
When?
19th July - 21st August 2019
Where?
Nelson Mandela Theatre at The Joburg Theatre
Book your tickets here:
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