Young actors enthral

A group of pupils from Centurion College in Hillbrow mesmerised the audience at the National Arts Festival.

The young girls, who are between eight and 14, featured in a stage play called My Silence is Talkative. The production explores what living in South Africa is like for young women.

The sterling cast interact as they expose the audience to the serious issues of albinism and child trafficking through beautiful singing and simple movements.

My Silence is Talkative is a story of Mphilo, a country teenager born with albinism. After her birth Mphilo and her mother were sent away by the grandmother because she was ashamed of what the community would say.

Mphilo grows up stigmatised because of her albinism. Her grandmother realises later that she can make money from selling her body parts.

The work is also connected through Gcebile Dlamini's strong directorial and aesthetic signature, which does not employ the use of sets but rather uses the performers' movements and bodies to give shape to the drama.

The young girls' performance is thrilling and breathtaking to watch.

Meanwhile, a play called Thuma Mina, featuring a youthful cast, stood out. It combined physical theatre, dance, poetry and multidisciplinary performance.

With the term Thuma Mina, (send me) synonymous with President Cyril Ramaphosa, the play explored many complex sociopolitical issues on race, gender, class and injustice.

The story is told through two nations, the blue and red nations, who don't love each other due to class and racism.

Through the show the youngsters fight for change and liberation.

The show is told through comedy, satire and metaphor.

Thuma Mina is directed by Nancy Strauss and features actors such as Anica Scholtz, Edward Arderne and Mthokozisi Makhaye