Theatre productions are “profound storytelling tools” that help people make better decisions about critical topics in our community such as mental health. South Africa, like many other countries around the world, has a fair share of reported mental health cases.
On November 17, 2022, Joburg Theatre was the heart of educational entertainment and fun with two timeslots of the play, Endzeni ka jele ra yena, which is Xitsonga for “inside his cell”.
The play, presented in collaboration with the City of Johannesburg’s Arts Alive, was presented at Lesedi Theatre at 15:00 and 19:00, with a lively audience in attendance.
Given Hosi Maluleke, a Tshwane University of Technology graduate, wrote and directed Endzeni ka jele ra yena to raise awareness about mental health issues.
The storyline centres around the life of Amukelani Chauke, a 31-year-old man suffering from mental illness.
Given said he struggled with mental health problems during Covid-19 in 2020, but as an artist he sought solace in the arts.
Also inspired by the rise of mental illness cases and the ever-increasing suicide rates in South Africa, the writer embarked on a mission to combat mental health foes the best way he knows through writing and directing.
“We added humour to the play to move the attention away from the severity of the matter since we all know laughing is a potent medicine, nothing works faster or more powerfully to put your mind and body back into balance than a good chuckle,” Maluleke explained.
“With so much healing and renewing power, the capacity to laugh freely and regularly can be a great resource for overcoming problems, improving relationships and maintaining physical and mental health,” he continued.
Vusimuzi Khoza, an actor and hip-hop musician, plays the role of Amukelani Chauke, a salesman who loses his job. Instead of looking for another job, he focuses on his music ambitions only to discover that it too does not work out for him.
He then drowns in melancholy and withdraws from society, concealing his parallel psychopathic ego from his family and friends while he revels in his hedonistic fantasies.
“Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder are some of the issues affecting many across the country,” said Kaiser Kubheka, one of the programme manager.
“For our nation to heal and prosper beyond the expectations borne out of a generation of democracy, we need to be hands on deck to educate and enlighten one another on mental health issues,” he added.
“The Endzeni ka jele ra yena theatrical production taught me that we need to show compassion to one another, better our treatment of those who suffer from mental illnesses and realize that it is okay not to be okay,” one audience member commented.
Written by Ntombifuthi Junerose Nkosi
18/11/2022