Overview
Mongiwekhaya’s I See You, directed by Noma Dumezweni) played at the Fugard Studio Theatre from the 6th of May 2016. Before transferring to the Fugard, this utterly gripping production played at the Market Theatre in Joburg after a sold-out world premiere season at the Royal Court in London.
It’s post-Apartheid South Africa, after dark. ‘Speak to me in your mother tongue, and I will let you go.’ Ben meets Skinn for a night out. But the party is interrupted by the police. Ben, a young student who doesn’t know his history, is accused of a crime he didn`t commit. Officer Buthelezi, a former freedom fighter, can’t let it go. “I don’t need your sorries, white boy. Yes, you heard right. Do you know white people think we’re the same? We both look black. But only one of us is black.”
Details
First performance
6 May 2016
Final performance
28 May 2016
Venue
The Fugard Studio
Cast
Skinn
Jordan Baker
Buthelezi
Desmond Dube
Ben
Bayo Gbadamosi
James
Austin Hardiman
Masinga
Sibusiso Mamba
DJ Mavovo/Dr Pravesh
Kim Sanssoucie
Shabangu
Lunga Radebe
Creative team
Writer
Mongiwekhaya
Director
Noma Dumezweni
Designer
Soutra Gilmour
Lighting Designer
Richard Howell
Composer and Sound Designer
Giles Thomas
Movement Director
Luyanda Sidiya
Casting Director
Amy Ball
Assistant Director
John Haidar
International Director
Elyse Dodgson
Associate Director (International)
Richard Twyman
International Assistant
Sarah Murray
Production team
Production Manager
Bernd Fauler
Voice & Dialect Coach
Zabarjad Salam
Fight Director
Bret Yount
Costume Supervisor
Chris Cahill
UK Stage Managers
Julia Slienger
Dan Gammon
SA Stage Managers
Shayna Gleave
Ulibo Maake
Set Construction
Illusion, Design and Construct Ltd.
Scene Visual Productions
CHG Engineering
Gerhard Morkel
Scenic Art
James Rowse
Nadine Minaar
Ash Zamisa
Publicity (CT)
Christine Skinner
Photography (UK)
Johan Persson
Photography (CT)
Daniel Rutland Manners
Reviews
★★★★
“The piece is infused with the mounting tension of a thriller. The ensemble cast is impressive.”
Evening Standard
★★★★
“A gripping, troubling evening … Desmond Dube is magnificent as Buthelezi, helping us understand both the ugliness and the anguish of this damaged man. He’s matched by Bayo Gbadamosi’s lithe Ben, a nice combination of naivety and cockiness.”
Financial Times
★★★★
“A sure-footed, intelligent and gripping production.”
Financial Times
“Provocative, radical, ambitious and hugely absorbing.”
The South African
“Playwright Mongiwekhaya’s post-apartheid tale of erased histories and frustrated dreams is beautifully acted and grips like a thriller.”
The Guardian
Production photos
