Courtyard Theatre, DUT: 28-31 Oct 2024
Durban University of Technology’s Drama and Production Studies Department is proud to present The Scent of Change coming to the Courtyard Theatre at DUT from 28 until 31 October.
Written and directed by Dr Verne Rowin Munsamy, Musical direction by Zenneth Cibane, with musical producer Niwake Jama, and Choreographed by Mdu Mtshali. The production is part of the third year Performance Techniques module which navigates a Departmental Production in which students get a chance to experience a professional platform for Performance in their final year of their diploma.
This year’s production is a collaborative effort that brings to the stage a brand new South African musical that weaves together a romantic love story in a historical time in our country, pre-democracy, where the waters of integration were testing in the public schools of Chatsworth. In the late 1980s and early 1990s integration between Black and Indian learners was experimented with when small groups of Black learners were introduced into Indian schools to see if integration would be possible after almost 40 years of segregation.
The story navigates the romantic love story of Preshni, a teenage Indian girl, top of her class and James, a young Black student who is introduced into the Indian school. It conveys the uncertainty and prejudice that existed at the time but also the lingering hope of a united country.
The show features original music, lyrics scribed by Munsamy, and original compositions that are produced by Cibane and Jama. The choreography by Mtshali is fresh and enticing. This theatrical masterpiece is an attempt to highlight a pivotal moment I’m South African history and depict the tumultuous terrain of emotions that were rife at the time. Very often we forget the steps that were taken to achieve this state of freedom that we all enjoy. This play aims to shed light on a history that is unspoken.
The cast is made up of third year students who are eager to go out into the professional world and this is their final showcase before that entry into professionalism. There is also a live band to accompany the singers and dancers. This is a culmination of all the skills that the students have acquired during their time in the lecture halls and Performance studios of DUT.
The collaborative team would like to express our gratitude to the Drama and Production Studies HoD, Dr Tanya van Der Walt and the staff for allow us the space to be creative with such a monumental story from our history.
Performances run at the Courtyard Theatre from 28-31 October 2024. Tickets are R50 for the public, with discounted student prices at R30. Bookings may be done through the Drama and Production Studies Department on 0313732194 or email BawinileM1@dut.ac.za