Ithuna-The grave at Theatrearts

16/04/2024

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release

Ithuna (The grave) coming to Azande Theatre Village from 26 - 28 April 2024
Ithuna, A one man show created and performed by Buhle T Stefane is a dark, surreal psyche thriller following the story of Menzi Bubi. A man who one day decided to leave home and lived on a graveyard after his wife is reported missing. The play explores the themes of mental health, toxic masculinity, traps of poverty, gender based violence and femicide. The story unfolds through storytelling, object manipulation, dance/physical theatre and intense text aimed for male audiences over the age of 16 years old. The play also accommodates all other genders performed in English and IsiXhosa.

ITHUNA (The grave) by Buhle Stefane - The moving physical theatre piece about the real consequences of the grave. It was really amazing and eye-opening witnessing your work Buhle -Msawenkosi Limakhwe Mfikili
Ithuna is a tool to start a conversation or continue an on-going conversation with men about the unending pandemic of GBV/Femicide in South Africa and the world as large. This is an opportunity for a constructive conversation among men, women and other genders in order to create a society of zero tolerance of violence in any form.

"Buhle Stefane takes you on a rollercoaster ride into the belly of the beast, the mystical world of grief and torment, the psyche of South Africa. This may sound dark, but sometimes it is cathartic to go to dark places. There is a reason why teenagers dare each other to go into a graveyard at night. The place where nightmares take shape, to square up with the devil, to wrangle with death. And then dawn cracks the dark and fears dissipate and the light is let in. This is how I felt after first seeing Ithuna. That, and of course, Buhle's performance which is magnetic. -Caroline Calburn

" …. The use of those props and the transformation of objects? That bottle? How you used it? I was sitting on the edge of the chair. The text? I am in awe!"-Mihlali Bele

Ithuna played April 2022 at the Baxter Theatre’s Zabalaza Theatre Festival and received a Best Actor Award and a nomination for Best Director. Following that were two short runs at Magnet Theatre and Theatre Arts going home with a Peter Hays Award for Best lighting. Later in August 2023 run cancelled due to taxi strike.

It runs at Azande Theatre Village from 26 April 2024 @18:00 and 27 & 28 April 2024 @15:00. Tickets are available at the door and for more information email [email protected] or contact Buhle T Stefane at 0840799252

ENDS

📷Ayabonga Pilingane
📷Franz

25/07/2023

Rehearsals! Rehearsals! Rehearsals!
Make your booking today for the limited run of Ithuna playing from 5th -12th August and bookings made at www.theatrearts.co.za

19/07/2023

Make your bookings now for Ithuna playing Theatre Arts from 5th-12th August 2023 at 19h00 and a matinee at 15h00.
Bookings .theatrearts.co.za

15/07/2023

Don't forget to book .theatrearts.co.za

Opening 5th August 2023
Performances 6th -11 August
Matinee 12th August
Closing performance 12th August

Theatre Arts is a home of independent theatre, art and performance. For audiences it's a place to access fresh new work from Cape Town's talent. For local theatre practitioners – it's a place where they can create work, develop skills, perform, engage in dialogue and meet and work with theatre pra...

11/07/2023

Meet Stage Manager and Sound Operator:

Alinda Qama
An Actress, Stage manager, Fine art artist and a soccer player living in Cape Town, South Africa. She was born Emkhaphusi in Lady Frare, Eastern Cape. She is in her third year doing Bachelor of Arts in Live Performance at AFDA film school. This includes Production design, editing, acting for camera and stage performances. Her acting credits include 10 short Student films and two music videos. Stage performance include “Woza Albert” directed by Mahlatsi Mokgonyana, “Afrocartography” written by Mwenya Kabwe and directed by Raezeen Wentworth.

Ithuna-The grave at Theatrearts|Buhle T Stefane|Theatre Arts|Magnet Theatre|Azande Theatre Village|Siphenathi Pezow Siqwayi| Melaphi|Hlali Bele|

05/07/2023

We are counting weeks now!!! Book your ticket .theatrearts.co.za

ITHUNA
5th at 19h00 Opening
6th-11th at 19h00 Performances
12th at 15h00 Matinee show
12th at 19h00 Performance

Ticket cost R100
Bookings: www.theatrearts.co.za

📸 Ayabonga Philingana

02/07/2023

Meet the Creator and performer of Ithuna
Biography:

Thembisile Buhle Stefane, a multi-talented artist, thrives as an actor, director, dancer, writer, and object manipulator. Hailing from King William's Town and currently based in Cape Town, South Africa, Stefane's artistry is deeply rooted in his passion for telling thought-provoking and impactful stories, often referencing real-life tragedies.

Having graduated from esteemed programs such as Jazzart and Chrysalis Academy's dance and leadership program, as well as the Magnet Theatre training program, Stefane possesses a rich and diverse artistic background. His acting repertoire includes notable performances in "Oedipus at Colonus ," directed by Mark Fleischmann, "Ekwindla," an early years production directed by Jennie Reznek and Jayne Batzofini, and "Surge," directed by Roshina Ratnam.

Stefane's talent extends beyond acting, as he has also made significant contributions as a choreographer. Notable works include "House of Truth," written by Dir. Siphiwo Mahala and directed by Siphenathi Siqwayi, "Freedom or what," directed by Siphenathi Siqwayi, and "Back to ashes," directed by Molupi Lepedi.

Among Stefane's achievements is his one-hander show titled "Ithuna," which premiered at The Zabalaza Theatre Festival at the Baxter, earning him the prestigious Best Actor Award and a nomination for Best Director. Also his directing credits include to “Isikhuni” staged at Magnet Theatre by Ikrele leJoy Organization written by Asavela Mpayipeli and also co-directed “The until” with Nosiphiwo Ndabeni. His dedication and talent have also been recognized with a nomination for Most Promising Student at the Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards.

A remarkable opportunity awaits Stefane as he joins the Magnet Theatre youth company, which will serve as the Baxter Theatre's resident performers from July 2023.

This privilege further underscores his exceptional abilities and commitment to his craft. With an unwavering dedication to creating impactful art and a promising future ahead, Thembisile Buhle Stefane continues to inspire and captivate audiences through his diverse artistic endeavours. As he navigates the vibrant South African theatre scene, Stefane's talent and passion will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on the landscape of performing arts.

@Theatrearts@Magnet TheatreBuhle T StefaneT StefaneSiphenathi Pezow Siqwayi@AlindaQama@KuhleMelaphiHlali Bele

25/06/2023

Ithuna-The grave from 5-12 August 2023 at 19h00 and a matinee at15:00
Venue: Theatre Arts: Methodist church hall, Cnr Milton road and Wesley street, observatory.

The play had a run on the Zabalaza Theatre Festival 2022 at the Baxter under the mentorship of Bulelani Mabutyana, it won the Best Actor Award and had a nomination for Best Director. The show also played at Magnet Theatre and Theatre Arts for short runs in 2022.

R100/
Bookings: www.theatrearts.co.za

10/06/2023

Press Release
TB STEFANE’S ITHUNA COMES TO THEATRE ARTS STAGE IN AUGUST
“We are all walking and working on top of our own grave and life as a whole is an unrevealing of that grave. A constant fight of survival under great measures of violence. Gender based violence, black on black violence, Xenophobic violence, Race/ racism violence and many other violences. This work dwells on themes of violence such as mental health, GBV/Femicide, alcohol abuse, toxic masculinity, traps of poverty and culture.”- TB Stefane
TB Stefane’s ITHUNA- THE GRAVE hits up the Theatre arts from 05 August 2023 to 12 August 2023 at 19:00hr with 12 August 2023 at 15:00 and 19:00.
The play had a run on the Zabalaza Theatre Festival 2022 at the Baxter under the mentorship of Bulelani Mabutyana, it won the Best Actor Award and had a nomination for Best Director. The show also played at Magnet Theatre and Theatre Arts for short runs in 2022.
“The magic of a theatre space as it readies to open its doors to the public. The aesthetics of Ithuna are surreal, mystical and magical.” -Caroline Calburn
“The moving physical theatre piece about the real consequences of the grave. We as the society tend to look at the death statistics rate more than the reason behind the high death rate. Ignorance, abuse (substance, physical and emotional) and colonialization badly result in high death rate, mental illness, as those who are not laid well to rest haunting their perpetrators because of the failure in justice system… if we as the offspring of SA are entertaining gangsterism, Xenophobia attacks, crime and getting in and out of prison, do we really see the future of the new South Africa? Or we all slowly but surely going to the grave before our fathers and forefathers. It was amazing and eye opening witnessing your work Buhle…”- Msawenkosi Limakhwe Mfikili
Ithuna (The grave) follows a story of a man who kills his wife, leaves home to live on the graveyard. The story is told through a great performance of Physical theatre/dance, Object manipulation, storytelling, poetry and intense dialogues.
TB Stefane uses Ithuna as the best possible tool to start a conversation or continue an on-going conversation with men about the unending pandemic of GBV/ Femicide in South Africa and the world as large. He uses this work as a tool to open an opportunity for a contractive conversation among men, females and other genders in order to create a society of zero tolerance of abuse in any form.
Ithuna, produced by an award-winning director Siphenathi Siqwayi is created and performed by TB Stefane and staged managed by Alinda Qama.
Booking can be made at: www.theatrearts.co.za or 0735532438
Tickets price: R100