1001 Nights
UJ Arts & Culture
Playwright:: Ismail Mahomed
Choreographer:: Daniel Buckland
Composer & Live Musician:: Matthew Macfarlane
Lighting Designer:: Nomvula Molepo
Stage & Costume Design: 2nd Year FADA Design Students
Stage Manager :: Froas Masseule
Costume Construction :: FADA Fashion Design Department
Moses Bheki Mogapi with SANDILE MAJOZI, SONWABILE FELA, GIFT MOSEBI, MALUNGELO MYEZA
Set Construction:: Industrial Design Department with FABLab; Martin Bolton with Vincent Molapo, Oratile Mokgatla and Calvin Nelson, Alistair Stubbs, Jedidiah Botse and Reinhard Giezing
Professional Cast:
Matshidiso Dolly Louw
Ilse Klink
Marcus Mabusela
Katlego Nche
Sivuyise Kibido
Musanete Sakupwanya
2nd year Arts Academy Drama Chorus:
Katlego Gama
Lebogang Mthombeni
Tintswalo Masondo
Confidence Mathanyela
Sisipho Mhlonto
To do justice to this timeless work, Jade Bowers, has convened a cast of some of the best storytellers in the industry such as Dolly Louw, Musanete Sakupwanya, Ilse Klink, Sivuyise Kibido, Marcus Mabusela, and Katlego Nche. Matthew MacFarlane’s evocative compositions and Daniel Buckland’s artful choreography enrich the experience, with students from UJ Arts Academy adding their talents to the ensemble. UJ FADA Industrial Design students craft the stage, while UJ FADA Fashion Design students bring the costumes to life.
1001 Nights promises to transport you into a realm of theatrical play and enchanting storytelling. Set against the backdrop of Shahrayar’s palace, where the King has vowed to behead his brides, it follows Queen Scheherazade’s ingenious plan to captivate him with tales, facing death each dawn. Queen Scheherazade weaves her tales to captivate the heart of her king, highlighting the enduring magic of narrative and its ability to transport us to distant lands and cultures. Through these stories, we explore themes of love, adventure, and the resilience of the human spirit, reminding us of the universal nature of human experience. Resonating with a South African tradition, the work is a celebration of the power of storytelling.
1001 Nights goes beyond its captivating narratives to explore deeper themes of diversity, transformation, and cultural tolerance. Rooted in the rich history of the Middle East, the 1001 Nights tales reflect a tapestry of influences from Arabic, Egyptian, Sanskrit, Persian, and Mesopotamian literature. The production aims to spark conversations about history, religion, and the shared human experience, ultimately promoting understanding and unity among communities.
“The chance to experiment with our African tradition – storytelling – to contribute to societal transformation and impact within the context of these rich narratives really excited me,” says Resident Director of UJ Arts & Culture, Jade Bowers.
“Representation matters, this production is an exploration of our histories and cultures through storytelling. Storytelling has run through our veins for centuries- and our blood flows from the East, from the North and from the West. This production is, hopefully, one small insight into the stories of our ancestors,” she emphasises.
