BELOVED South African author Es’kia Mphahlele short-story, ‘’THE SUITCASE’’ has the distinction of being the first play to run at the newly built Soweto Theatre.
Adapted into a theatre production by playwright, director and award winning actor James Nqcobo,’ “The suitcase” will premiere at the Soweto Theatre’s opening this coming Friday.
Nqcobo’s enjoyed incredible success with THE suitcase, a play he holds dear- when he first adapted it in 2006, it won 6 Naledi Thetre Awards.
The story, which Mphahlele originally authored in 1954 tells the story of a young couple from the rural areas of Kwazulu Natal, who seek a better life in Durban. Settling in Umkhumbane- “Durban’s Sophiatown” ,the two soon realize that big city life is cold, cruel and unwelcoming. The husband, Timi, cannot find a job, and when his wife, Namhla falls pregnant, their difficulties are exacerbated. In a desperatebid to improve their lives, Timi snatches a suitcase that’s been left on a bus- and sets the two on a collision course with disaster. The Suitcase was originally published in Drum magazine, where Es’kia worked as a writer.
Ngcobo has enlisted heavy hitters Hugh Masekela as a musical director, and Gregory Magoma as thechereographer.
