“Amajuba shows us far more than sadness, it is also about joy, intimacy, energy, the will to survive.” —The Scotsman
“A true moment of theatre can only exist in the present – not yesterday, not tomorrow. And there are always people watching. This direct link with the audience is what makes theatre different from all other forms of art. South African township theatre is the most precious example. It is born of life, in the street, in towns unlike any others, in the “Townships,” the ghettos of apartheid. It is theatre of a very special nature – what was real in the past touches us just as much today. It is immediate theatre and its superb sense of ridicule shows us all too clearly what was, what is and what lies ahead.”
—Peter Brook
Based on the lives of the five cast members, Amajuba is a vivid and mesmerizing portrayal of growing up in apartheid South Africa, a work that transcends time and place with universal issues that confront humanity, particularly those of the modern city. At once powerful, humorous, and deeply moving, this new theater work by South African director/playwright Yael Farber (one of the country’s most innovative and expressive theatrical directors) is a tightly bound narrative of jarring authenticity and joyous celebration. Through movement, unforgettable vocal work, and the timeless power of storytelling, this immensely uplifting performance transforms even the grimmest of realities into art: allow yourself to be swept away.
