Askari': Political thriller play returns to SA State Theatre

Askari': Political thriller play returns to SA State Theatre I saw it fit to contribute to the truth reconciliation project': Sello Maseko's Askari' is set to return to the SAST on 27 September.

by Naledi de Wee

23-09-2022 18:18

in Entertainment

Askari' a political thriller play is set to return to the South African State Theatre on 27 September. Image: Supplied

Askari, a political thriller play directed by award-winning director Sello Maseko, is set to return to the South African State Theatre (SAST) from 27 September to 16 October. The play has previously been nominated for two Naledi Theatre Awards.

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ABOUT ASKARI' Askari tells the story of freedom fighters who worked as double agents, informers, intelligence analysts and deadly assassins for the Vlakplaas counterinsurgency unit which tortured anti-apartheid analysts. The organisation recruits youth and influential leaders to do their work. The Vlakplaas farm is 20 km outside of Pretoria.

The term askari is used to describe former members of liberation movements who worked against their fellow comrades.

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The political thriller play will be presented on stage through musical theatre with a six-piece band led by Nhlapo and Cromwell Modungwa, who will be the musical directors for the piece.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE PLAY The play is written by Sello Maseko and Mdu Nhlapo and explores betrayal, death, redemption and forgiveness through musical theatre. In 2019, Maseko visited the abandoned Vlakplaas farm and described it as a lonely and quiet farmhouse on an empty tract of land .

On why he had to tell the Askari story, Maseko said: As a historian and storyteller, I saw it fit to contribute to the truth reconciliation project. The story of these foot soldiers of apartheid whose job description was to kill needed to be told and I had to be the one telling it.

Actors set to star in the play include Abongile Matyutyu (who will play Thomas Maseko), Soyiso Ndaba (who will play Boboza Khumalo), Monica Muller (who will play Marita Swanepoel), Kagiso Matlala (who will play Thembi Madida) and Wilf Mahne (who will play Gert Swanepoel).

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WHERE TO GET TICKETS FOR ASKARI'

The political thriller play will be on at the SAST from 27 September to 16 October. Tickets for Askari are available online, at Pick n Pay and at the SAST. Tickets to see the political thriller play are R130 each.

Tickets are available here

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LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/entertainment/askari-political...
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