Following the success of her debut solo poetry show in February, Siphokazi Jonas will present her new production, Around the Fire, on Saturday, 25 July, at The Warehouse, 12 Plantation Road in Wetton.
The UCT graduate, and former Queenstown local, holds a Masters degree in English literature, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama and English.
“This is not just a poetry show”, the gifted academic admits, “it is a fusion of theatre, poetry and music, that create a unique experience.”
Siphokazi Jonas
This vital and voracious poet has been pushing the envelope in the work she has been producing over the past year, and has been featured in the Inzync Poetry Sessions, Expression Session Kuilsriver, Grounding Sessions and Artsemble. Siphokazi has been an opening act for American poets Ezekiel Azonwu, Janette Ikz and Alysia Harris as well as UK Hip Hop artist S.O.
She was recently crowned the first Home of Poetry slam champion at the Cape Town Ultimate Slam on 31 May 2015.
She is also the curator of Poetica, at the Open Book Festival, and recently featured in the February issue of Authors Magazine and the June issue of in-flight magazine, Mango Juice.
Siphokazi performed at Music Exchange 2014, to an audience including the likes of international heavyweights of the calibre of Mos Def, Trevor Jones, AKA, Estelle Kockot, RJ Benjamin, and Hotstix Mabuse, amongst others. Last August she was the guest artist at the Open Mic Jazz competition at GrandWest, along with Bev Scott Brown.
The young wordsmith has most recently worked with the Applauz Arts Initiative, at the Adam Small Festival. Collaboration is a defining feature of her work and has led her to sharing the stage with local legends Pops Mohammed, Dave Reynolds, Frank Paco and Amanda Tiffin. This approach has given birth to the upcoming production on the 25th of July.
After conducting interviews with five Cape Town residents from different backgrounds, Siphokazi intends to bring their untold stories to the stage through poetry.
“The script is brand new, as is the musical score,” she explains, “imagine a musical where the conversation is between poetry and music.” “I want to tell these stories because I believe that they are all our stories. Around the Fire is meant to remind us about the community formed when we sit together in front of a fireplace or around a camp or a braai fire and share our lives with those close to us.” This show is an invitation to “come out of the cold” and share in the warmth of a new community; the story we tell could be yours.”
WHAT: Around the Fire, directed by Nolan Africa, with music composed by Sikhumbuzo Ndebele and features vocals and music by Zoë Modiga, Eden Myrrh Toohey, Fruit Vendor, Keanu Harker, Germaine Leonard and Liam Webb.
WHERE: The Warehouse, 12 Plantation Road, Wetton, Cape Town 7800
TICKETS: cost R100.
INFO: Triple M Entertainment Martin Myers E martin@triplementertainment.co.za or martmyers@gmail.com C +27 83 448 4475
