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This Heritage Month, Imagine Africa is bringing several of Dr Gcina Mhlophe’s stories to the People’s Theatre, including Golden Windows, Crocodile and the Monkey's Heart. Rather than following one long storyline, the production takes audiences from one Mhlophe story to the next, with each bringing new characters, a different conflict and its own lesson. Before you have too much time to settle into one, you’re off into the next.
Within minutes of Imagine Africa: Our Stories Brought to Life starting, my baby brother was already giggling and singing along. I knew I was taking him to a children’s show, but I didn’t expect him to get so into it so quickly. By the time the first story got going, he was already hooked.
A collection of stories
The story that stuck with me most was Golden Windows. Here, Khosi Mkhonza plays a character who becomes fascinated by the big city and starts dreaming of leaving home for it. In her mind, the city is all excitement and glamour. Once she gets there, though, she discovers it isn’t quite what she imagined. The people aren’t welcoming, nobody seems interested in her and the atmosphere feels very different from what she had imagined.
As the sun begins to set, she realises that her own home has those golden windows too. She just couldn’t see them while she was there. It’s a simple story, but its message comes through without ever feeling preachy. Sometimes we get so caught up in looking for something better elsewhere that we miss what’s already right in front of us.
The other stories each take the audience somewhere different, bringing their own characters, humour and little surprises along the way. In Crocodile and the Monkey’s Heart, a friendship between a monkey and a crocodile takes an unexpected turn. The story brings plenty of humour, a little danger and some clever thinking to the stage.
Small cast, big roles
Bethany-Joy Jiyane, Boikie Mogorosi, Khosi Mkhonza and Luciano Zuppa may be the only four actors on stage, but they take on a whole range of characters between them. Each role has its own personality, and the playful energy stays intact throughout. The actors don’t need long costume changes to become someone new. A simple prop is enough to signal a different character, keeping the transitions quick and the action moving.
I particularly liked that the production used two different lion characters instead of relying on the same lion prop throughout. It’s a small detail, but it helps each story feel like its own. The chemistry between the four actors is hard to miss. They bounce off each other during the dialogue and character changes, but it’s during the musical numbers that they really seem to click.
A simple set
There isn’t much to the set, but the actors do a lot with what they have. With the set kept simple, the actors rely on costumes, props and movement to tell the stories. Their differently coloured T-shirts make it easy to tell them apart, while a few extra pieces help show which character they’re playing.
The stage isn’t the only space the actors use. They sometimes run through the auditorium, especially when a scene needs to show someone travelling from one place to another. It’s a simple touch, but it makes the whole theatre feel part of the action. The simplicity works because the storytelling does most of the heavy lifting. Imagine Africa gives children enough to follow each story without spelling everything out, leaving plenty of room for their own imaginations.
Making the audience part of the story
The audience gets properly involved at one point, with one side taking on washing clothes and the other picking crops. A few parents even get caught up in the action.The final scene takes the audience interaction a step further.
Without giving too much away, a few children are invited onto the stage to help solve the mystery of who stole the clothes. The actors don’t try to quiet the children down. Instead, they play off their reactions and let the excitement become part of the show.
Taking my baby brother along gave me a different way of looking at the show. What might seem simple to an adult can be enough to completely capture a child’s attention, and Imagine Africa understands that.
The stories are at the heart of the production, but the music, humour and playful performances make them feel fresh and accessible.
Why book?
If you’re looking for something to do with the kids during the school holidays, Imagine Africa is an easy afternoon of stories, music, humour and live theatre. For parents, the real pleasure may be seeing their children discover how much fun live storytelling can be. Imagine Africa makes space for play, participation and imagination without losing sight of the stories themselves.
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