Terri Dunbar-Curran
WHEN poet, novelist and playwright Zakes Mda first penned his novel Heart of Redness he intended to write a “great novel” that would be enjoyed as a work of art in its own right. “While eliciting some dialogue on history, and while also addressing pertinent issues, such as the nature of religious belief and the problems of rural development,” he says.
Now, fans of that literary work can once again be enveloped in Mda’s world, this time on stage at The Fugard Theatre from Wednesday to Saturday at 7.30pm. Under the direction of Mark Fleishman, with music by Neo Muyanga, movement direction by Jennie Reznek and designs by Craig Leo, Heart of Redness will be performed by 15 cast members from Magnet Theatre and UCT Drama School, as well as some of Cape Town Opera’s youngest members. Part opera, part musical, the unique production incorporates a variety of styles.
The story is set in Qolorha, a remote village in the Eastern Cape, where a young prophetess once commanded the Xhosa people to kill their cattle and burn their crops. She told them that as a result the spirits of their ancestors would rise and drive the oppressive English into the sea, and also resurrect the cattle and restore the crops. But the prophecy did not come true and the village became divided.
Over a century later their decendents are still at odds, this time over plans to build a casino and tourist resort in the village. The tale centres on Camagu, who went into exile in America during apartheid and on returning to Johannesburg is disillusioned by the problems inherent in South Africa’s new democracy. So he finds himself travelling to this small, divided village, and becoming swept up in the conflict.
“It is a story that shuttles between the past – the 1850s during the Xhosa cattle-killing tragedy due to Nongqawuse’s prophecies – and the present,” says Mda of Heart of Redness.
“What fascinates the readers is to see the parallels between the historical period and contemporary South Africa, which lead to the conclusion that the past is always a strong presence in our present.”
The novel, which was published in 2000, was shortlisted for the prestigious Commonwealth Writers Prize.
Fleishman approached Mda with the idea of the adaptation. “It was not something I had considered before,” says Mda, adding that he has not been involved in the project at all, and has not met the cast. “I’ll see it for the first time on opening night like the rest of the audience.”
Mda is no stranger to having his novels adapted for the stage as a musical. “Most notable was Michael Williams’ adaptation of Ways of Dying into the jazz opera Love and Green Onions,” he says. “And, by the way, Michael Williams is involved in this Heart of Redness adaptation as well. The Sculptors of Mapungubwe is currently in line for such adaptation.”
While Mda’s works gain in popularity across page and stage, he is kept busy “living, loving, writing, painting and teaching”.
l Tickets: R100 to R190. Book: 0861 915 8000, www.computicket.co.za Information: www.capetownopera.co.za, or follow Cape Town Opera on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.