Join us for a reading of a new work "What We Bring to the Table" by Mbali Ndlozi. Read by Thuli Ngcwaweni, Thabang Tshabalala & Samakelisiwe Maseko
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In the cozy, scent-filled apartment of Johannesburg, a delicious aroma of steak and red wine sets the scene. Nomfanelo, a vibrant 33-year-old Black woman, is preparing an intimate dinner for a man she’s been talking to online, eager for the evening to bring clarity and connection. As she arranges the table and listens to Esther Perel’s thought-provoking podcast, her mind races with questions about her desires, her worth, and the boundaries she’s expected to uphold.
Suddenly, Sifiso — her best friend and confidant, a lively 30-year-old gay man — arrives, having spent the day helping her shop, run errands, and endure the city’s chaos. What starts with laughter over wine and shared exhaustion soon reveals cracks beneath their friendship: two souls scarred by love and family history, holding contrasting hopes for what relationships should be.
Over the course of four hours—etched into ninety intense minutes on stage—the kitchen transforms into a battleground of ideas: gender roles, privilege, emotional labor, sexual power, and the legacy of unspoken love. Esther Perel’s voice, echoing through the background, becomes both soundtrack and catalyst for raw, uncomfortable truths.
Both Nomfanelo and Sifiso yearn for love, safety, and validation. Yet, their differing visions of what love looks like and what they’re willing to risk threaten to fracture their bond forever.
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With the writers in attendance, this series gives a unique insight to script development processes and allows for audiences to give feedback and input to work before it is put on the rehearsal room floor.
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