Nine Lives will make its South African debut from 12 November – 12 December 2021 as part of the 45 years celebration programming at the Market Theatre written by Zimbabwean-born world-renowned playwright and poet Zodwa Nyoni.
Making her long-awaited directorial debut is all-rounder creative Diamond Mokoape.
Returning to Market Theatre stages in this gripping and heart-wrenching piece is the multi-award-winning actor who is also the Market Theatre Laboratory alumni, Warren Masemola.
Warren is an accomplished Film, Theatre and Television actor who has brought so much versatility to the acting craft. Best known for his roles in blockbuster movies like iNumber Number, Eye In The Sky and Vaya which he was nominated for best-supporting actor for Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards 2017.
Nine Lives is a one-man show about Ismael, a gay Zimbabwean asylum seeker who is dispersed to Leeds – UK. He fled from his home where homophobia threatens his life.
While he awaits the Home Office decision regarding his case the clock is ticking, and his fate is being decided. This is a tale that shines the spotlight on the horrors of asylum-seeking communities in the UK and across the world.
Season Dates: 12 November to 12 December 2021
Time of show: Tues to Sat: 7 pm & Sundays 3 pm
This play will connect our audiences to the realities of asylum seekers, hate crime victims, xenophobia and homophobia.
It aims to counter the generalisations made about immigration and assumptions about the lived experiences of refugees and asylum seekers.
Affirming the Market Theatre’s commitment to unearth and support leading young creatives who are breaking boundaries and are determined to excel in their professions, Diamond Mokoape with more than 10 productions under her directing belt has been tasked with the mammoth task of directing the play.
She says with this play she hopes our audiences are moved to be advocates of human rights.
Audiences will be left in awe with the thought-provoking monologues from this unforgettable truthful solo drama performed by South Africa’s finest actor Warren Masemola.
The Market Theatre continues with its commitment to producing continental content, Warren was last seen in a Nigerian play The Fisherman, there is something poignant about him tackling this time around a play whose origins are Zimbabwean.
The Market excels in creating universal productions that depict and dissect stories from the continent with such pure delight.