Drama Oh Mama

So you’re watching your favourite local television series or perhaps a telenovela, such as Isibaya, Generations, Isidingo or The Wild. The cliché scene of slapping and back stabbing plays out. And the scene plays as follows:

Olwethu: "Who the hell do you think you are?!"
Roxanne: "Excuse me! Do you have any idea has to who...."

[Olwethu slaps Roxanne]

Roxanne: "Oh you stupid, STUPID b@$th! That’s one mistake you’ll regret ever making."
Olwethu: "Oh Lord so help me I don’t kill you with my bare hands. If you ever, EVER think you’re going to get your hands on this company...well think again!"
Roxanne: "You forget I’m carrying the heir to this company, the very heir that renders me an instant shareholder of this company."
Olwethu: "You snake! You’ve always wanted your hands on this company, even if it means sleeping your way to attain it. I hope you burn in hell you psychotic b@$th!"
Roxanne: "I vacation there."

[End scene]
Though are we all aware, of where such dramatic essence comes from? Well, birth of theatre is the very birth of telenovelas and soaps. Therefore the one person I think of, who has had extreme contribution and influence in the performing arts, is the English born and bred poet and dramatist William Shakespeare. But who is William Shakespeare?

Records indicate that not much is known of Shakespeare’s early childhood though it is noted that he presumably attended the Stratford Grammar School. It is this very school in which its curriculum enabled Shakespeare to acquire the adequate knowledge and skills of which in turn have capitalised Shakespeare’s success. William Shakespeare was the son of John Shakespeare and Mary who was the daughter of a wealthy land owner and relative of aristocratic Ardens of Park Hall, Robert Arden of Wilmcote. Frankly, I’m so not into walking down memory lane pertaining to the life and times of Shakespeare. It will feel like I’m presenting a history lesson on him.

Though what surprises me is the relevance of his work such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra and Julius Caesar to name but a few which is currently being studied in various educational institutions.

Although Shakespeare is a very prominent influence of the performing arts, he was not the only contributor to the arts.

With such drama talk it reminds me of my own drama days. Yep, back in high school, I Nkosana Edward Mdhluli ka’Nkosi was a drama geek at heart. Oh I truly loved the theatre. You see I wasn’t some hot shot famous theatre actor but an amateur school pupil competing in the EADS and Wits drama festivals amongst other schools. My ever first drama production I took part in was Dolly’s Room, then Toy’s R not Us the following year, bringing forth the birth of my alter ego Roxy from the Not A High School Musical production and lastly This is the END.

Yes, four productions over consecutive years and the one I hold most dear to my heart is Not A High School Musical. It’s the very production that took us to the finals of the EADS drama festival, in fact we won the festival cause of the production. Though I must confess, the whole drama team wasn’t feeling the production as major changes were implemented. So moi guesses CHANGE IS GOOD AFTER ALL!!
But apart from entertaining the audience or perhaps being part of a production team, what the performing arts or the life of the theatre has taught me is the fact that I practically get to walk in a person’s shoes and see their circumstances and not to instantly place judgement upon them. Therefore it’s not merely acting a role but taking a path of someone else’s life.

Though I wonder what life would be without our daily dose of drama. Thus I must thank Mr W. Shakespeare for his contribution to the life and times of nothing but drama. So ladies and gents...save the DRAMA for ya MAMA!!!

Sources consulted

Encyclopedia Americana. 1829. Volume 24.