Pauline Malefane talks about A Man of Good Hope at the Young Vic
in Black Voices, International, Musicals, Political Theatre, South African Theatre
2nd November 2016
INTERVIEW: PAULINE MALEFANE. Pauline Malefane, performer and musical director with Isango Ensemble, talks about her musical play, A Man of Good Hope, which runs at the Young Vic from 6 October until November 12. A Man of Good Hope is a Young Vic and Isango Ensemble Production co-produced by The Royal Opera, Repons Foundation, BAM and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg. It tells the true story of one refugee’s epic quest across Africa, brought to life with music from the world-renowned Isango Ensemble. Asad is a young Somali refugee with a painful past, miraculously good luck and a brilliant head for business. After years in a refugee camp and then learning to hustle in the streets of Ethiopia, he sets off for the promised land of South AFrica. But when we arrives, he discovers the violent reality of life in the townships – and his adventures really begin. This adaptation of Jonny Steinberg’s riveting book is told through roof-lifting songs and dance accompanied on the marimba. Recorded at the Young Vic on 1 November 2016.
“When I am on stage I am an ambassador for South Africa, so to speak, and this story is not saying good things. It’s not saying good things about South Africa, but ultimately we have to confront it – even with Apartheid, we had Truth and Reconciliation commission to deal with the past.”
