A Face Like Mine

A Face Like Mine

A lyrical and sensual performance exploring the many fragmented perceptions black women have of themselves.

Asanda Phewa, University of Cape Town’s Best Theatre-Maker of 2008, explores the many fragmented perceptions black women have of themselves.

 

A lyrical and sensual performance that takes an honest look at how women dress up self worth.

 

'Asanda Phewa seemed to peel off the layers of her skin to get to the heart of her story' Tonight Newspaper, SA

 

Directed by Lara Foot Newton.

 

Contains some nudity.

 

Asanda Phewa on race and culture in modern South Africa

I think the term race is outdated. I think what's more significant now is individuality. We now have all these tools at our disposal to inform the kind of person we choose to be.  This is a new thing in South Africa where we had laws telling us what it meant to be wrapped in a particular skin color! I think this hasn't been celebrated enough and there is some nervous energy around losing the essence of culture. But I think culture by its very definition is an ever changing thing, I understand though the feeling of loneliness, and fear of having no reference or a commonality, a people to come home to. I think my character points to that in her final monologue.

 

Asanda Phewa on conventional notions of what it means to be a black South African woman

Maybe they've become a little unrealistic. You have to be this domestic goddess, go to the gym, have an awesome CEO career, want children, know at least three different vernacular languages, look like Cosmo's front cover mag, have the car, the house, with the trimmings, be a sexual tiger, be smart as hell, be a yoga pro, a vegan, and have an amazing aptitude for foreign languages all before you turn 30.

 

Asanda Phewa on A Face Like Mine

Well, I take you through a the mind of a young woman with the world  at her feet and she just wants the relief of being a domestic worker, because she believes the above is too hard and lonely and everyone  hates her for trying or hates her for achieving it. It is a lose-lose situation. But everyone respects the domestic worker because to judge that would be judging every mother that had to make that choice. In South Africa, that's a lot of people's mothers.

 

Asanda Phewa on bringing the play to UK audiences

More than anything, I hope the play touches people and rings true for them on some level. I was communicating what I saw was a real problem for our youth. It was a highly personal project for me and I hope people enjoy the aesthetic I chose to communicate my ideas through!

 

See the interview with Asanda Phewa on theatre and culture here

 

Saturday 9, 7pm & Sunday 10 October, 6pm

Studio Doubles: A Face Like Mine and Ncamisa! Kiss the Women

See both shows and save!

Tickets £15, £10 concs

Contact the Box Office on 020 8692 4446 to book.

 

Post Show - Wednesday 6 October

More than Skin Deep

Discussion with theatre activist and lecturer Dr Deirdre Osborne and Asanda Phewa. FREE

 

 

Free Theatre...