The Pride of a Mother… Mother to Mother

I’m not in South Africa. In fact I’ve never visited (yet). My setting is distinctive and confirms I’m still in London; the traffic from Shaftesbury Avenue, the punters gathered at the pubs, the bright lights of a mainstream theatre on Cambridge circus. I’m in London’s West-end to watch “Mother to Mother”. A play set in Gugulethu “Our pride”, showing within the intimate space of The Tristan Bates Theatre in Convent Garden.

Size has never fooled me. Whatever intimacy is lost within the grande theatres of the West-end, fringe-theatre gains. There is no hiding behind the façade of multiple gimmicks and distance between actor and audience. The audience is up close to witness, and even critique every emotion the actor portrays.

The performance of “Mother to Mother” offers a genuine theatrical experience. The one-woman show is written and performed by South African actress Thembi Mtshali-Jones. There is an authentic ambiance to her character with her mother tongue ‘clicks’ and heart warming African folklore songs sung beautifully.

I was transported to the South African township, Gugulethu, to empathise with a hardworking mother. I sat with her on that packed bus the day of the tragic event…

“Mother to Mother” ends 25th October click here to buy tickets
Part of The Paul Robeson ‘Art is a weapon’ Festival 2013.

“Call Mr. Robeson” is also showing at The Tristan Bates Theatre. Witness the a moving performance about Paul Robeson’s life with songs.
Ends 26th October.
http://www.robesonartisfest.com

The Tristan Bates Theatre
1a Tower Street, Convent Garden, London WC2H 9NP
020 7240 6283

Have you got your tickets yet?

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#Robesonartisfest

Related articles

• The Paul Robeson Art is a Weapon Festival 2013 (socialistworker.co.uk)
• What would Paul Robeson make of theatre today? (theguardian.com)
• The remarkable Mrs Robeson (angelacobbinah.wordpress.com)
• Art is a Weapon (birminghamclarionsingers.wordpress.com)