Marikana musical returns to SA State Theatre in August

The critically acclaimed musical marks a decade since the Marikana Massacre where 34 protesting mineworkers were killed by South African police in 2012.

The musical returns after a four-year hiatus, with performers Meshack Mavuso, Aubrey Poo, Siyasanga Papu, Emma Mmekwa and Mpho Mckenzie Matome expected to bring an elaborate theatrical account of the massacre.

Written and directed by multi award-winning playwright and director Aubrey Sekhabi, Marikana – The Musical is an adaptation of the book We Are Going to Kill Each Other Today: The Marikana Story written by Thanduxolo Jika, Felix Dlangamandla, Lucas Ledwaba, Sebabatso Mosamo, Athandiwe Saba and Leon Sadiki.

“The story looks at the lives of mineworkers and their families as well as the events leading up to the massacre,” SAST said. “It goes back to the villages and townships where they came from and gives faces and names to the fallen brothers, sons, fathers and uncles.”

Marikana – The Musical made its debut in 2014 and was last staged in 2017 at SAST. In 2015, the explosive musical won six Naledi Theatre Awards out of 18 nominations and garnered respect from audiences and critics alike.

Background

On 16 August 2012, police opened fire on a crowd of protesting mineworkers who were demanding a wage increase from Lonmin Platinum Mine in Marikana in the North West province, killing 34 and injuring 78. International and local media described the event as the biggest incident of police brutality since the advent of democracy and it revived memories of the cruel apartheid regime. 

Tickets to the musical are available via Webtickets, at SAST and at Pick n Pay stores across the country.