An acclaimed poet and playwright-cum-director, Napo Masheane gives us a glimpse of the theatre industry, her passions, upcoming plays and why she loves her work.
By: Fundiswa Nkwanyana – @IamFundie
1.You will be the first black female director to stage a play at the John Kani Theatre in the Market Theatre; how has the journey leading up to this moment been?
I come from a family of strong women who taught me that I don’t need to try and identify with the story of Cinderella because we have many of own stories, for us and by us. My childhood memories in QwaQwa are filled with many stories shared by my family, friends, neighbours and the village. From a very early age, I realised that my people share their knowledge through storytelling and that fascinated me.
When I moved to Soweto, I was captivated by the creative spaces where poetry and drama were absorbed at a larger scale. As I grew older I realised that many of our stories were untold. I knocked on many doors but was rejected a lot times as the industry leaders always wanted to tell our stories in their own way. I kept trying to push open doors that were previously shut for us and even created different approaches to showcase our work.
It’s not easy when the industry is led by people who do not understand your stories and struggles. I never gave up and after years of sweat, tears and sacrifices, it has led to this moment. But, this is only the beginning; a lot of work still needs to be done.
2. You wear many hats – you are a playwright, poet, stage director and producer, teacher as well as a local and international performer. How did this come about?
It is very hard to get people to finance plays and productions; so over the years, I was forced to wear those hats because no one else was willing to. When we couldn’t afford to hire a stage director or producer, I jumped in and did what I could until I mastered the skill.
In this field, it’s important to be multifaceted. It was challenging at the beginning, but I did what I had to do to ensure that our stories are told the way we want them to be told. It was not easy, but I have always known where I want our stories to go, so I kept learning knowing that one day the stories will be on international stages.
3. You always celebrate and speak to women through most of your work as seen in My Bum is Genetic, Deal with it; Fat Songs for My Girlfriend and The Fat Black Women Sing. What is the underlying reason for this?
As a black woman in this industry, I feel it is my duty to share our stories and most importantly to honour, praise and salute the fire that we are. We hardly see theatre shows that strictly cater for us. Society often misunderstands and misrepresents black women, and that is why I tell our stories in a proud, assertive and unapologetic way.
I am always excited to perform for women as we connect spiritually through spoken and shared experiences. I love celebrating women.
4. You have written and directed the play A New Song, which will be staged at the John Kani Theatre in the Market Theatre. Why should people watch it?
It’s a celebration of sisterhood through drama, song and dance with a strong theme of political action and history. I have poured my heart and soul into this play and am blessed to have cast members who are just as dedicated and passionate. I feel this play will resonate with many people. Above all, it’s a story that they can easily identify with and relate to.
5. Oscar-nominated Chiwetel Ejiofor will perform your monologue titled Mama the Storm is Outside during the 2015 Children’s Monologues at the Royal Court Theatre in London. How did this collaboration come to be?
I wrote the monologue as a donation towards a fundraising initiative, but honestly didn’t know that Chiwetel would come on board. Sometimes I still can’t believe it. I am excited because our stories are going to be told on an international stage, and it is about time. I’m grateful to have an actor with such depth taking part in my journey, especially because it’s based on a testimony of a South African child and the theme is relevant for the local and international audiences.
6. We look forward to experiencing more of your work, what can we expect from you in the future?
I love what I do and I will hopefully continue to share my work with local and international audiences. This industry still has to open its doors to black women, and I hope I can play a role in that regard.
A New Song premieres at the Market theater from tomorrow, 28 October – 1 November. Don’t miss it!
