Photo Flash: First Look at South African Classic SIZWE BANZI IS DEAD, Coming to Syracuse Stage

From South Africa's acclaimed Market Theatre, the intensely funny and poignant Sizwe Banzi is Dead starts February 25 at Syracuse Stage. In this award-winning classic about the universal struggle for human dignity, a black man in apartheid-era South Africa tries to overcome oppressive work regulations to support his family. Co-creator John Kani performed in the original production and won the 1975 Tony Award for Best Actor. Now, 40 years later, Kani directs his son, Atandwa Kani, in this new international production. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

The Syracuse Stage production of Sizwe Banzi is Dead is co-produced with two acclaimed theatre companies: The Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa, and McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ. After performing in December to sold-out houses in South Africa, the work moved to McCarter in January.

Directing the Syracuse Stage production is John Kani, known as the "Grandfather of South African Theatre." Kani is one of the creators of Sizwe along with fellow actor Winston Ntshona and Athol Fugard, one of the worlds most revered playwrights. Kani and Ntshona performed the play in South Africa, England, and on Broadway, where they won joint Tony Awards for Best Actor.

Adding to the significance of the Syracuse production, John Kani is directing his son, actor Atandwa Kani, who will perform the roles made famous by his father. Atandwa Kani will be joined on stage by fellow South African actor Mncedisi Shabangu.

Sizwe Banzi is Dead was devised in 1972 as what became known as "protest theatre." The work was constructed to speak out against the apartheid system in South Africa, by examining the life of one man struggling to adhere to the Pass Laws. Pass Laws dictated that all black people over the age of 16 carry at all times a government issued identification called a pass book, which indicated where an individual could live and work (StageView).

Kani felt this firsthand as some people in South Africa did not approve of Sizwe. While working on this play and others, he was often detained by police. Once, shortly after winning the Tony Award, Kani and Winston Ntshona were arrested and placed into solitary confinement. The arrests sparked outrage from artists around the world and they were eventually freed. However, years later in 1985, Kani was stabbed by police and only narrowly escaped with his life (Program Book).

After the death of Nelson Mandela in December of 2013, Stage's Producing Artistic Director Timothy Bond reached out to John Kani about directing a revival of Sizwe. The arrival of this production in Syracuse marks a continuation of Stage's partnership with South African theatres that began with The Brothers Size, which transferred to the Market and Baxter Theatres in 2012.

Sizwe Banzi is Dead performs Feb. 25 - March 15 in the Archbold Theatre at the Syracuse Stage/Drama Complex, 820 East Genesee Street. Discounted preview performances are Feb. 25 and 26. The Opening Night performance is Friday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. Tickets and info are available at www.syracusestage.org, by phone at 315-443-3275, and in person at the Syracuse Stage Box Office, Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm.

Photo Credit: Ruphin Coudyzer

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