Woza Albert!

Thirty years after this defining political satire was first performed in South Africa, this supreme adaptation of Woza Albert! shows it hasn’t lost any of its power or poignancy. Written by Percy Mtwa, Mbongeni Ngema and Barney Simon in 1981, it presents a series of scenes from contemporary South African life and wonders what might happen if Jesus Christ (Morena) came to South Africa. It’s all performed by two astonishingly energetic actors, who flit from scene to scene with ease and play the multitude of characters here with just the right balance of humour, anger and desperation.

Earlier this year, this production played to packed out theatres in Johannesburg’s Market Theatre, where it made its debut three decades ago. And although you don’t necessarily need to be familiar with the play’s context to appreciate this brilliant version, it helps to remind yourself that many of the more absurd scenarios here—for instance, during apartheid, black workers needed a “passbook” to work outside their designated “homeland”—are doused in truth.

Woza Albert!'s format demands a riveting performance from its two actors, who perform exquisitely here – though watch out for the occasional spray of sweat droplets if you’re sitting in the front row. Despite its serious subject matter, there’s touching humour and a musical undercurrent which gives it a joyous rhythm and tempo. Ultimately, it’s a deeply spiritual play which highlights South Africa’s desperate need for salvation in the early 1980s, the severe frustrations of waiting for a revolution and, implicitly, asks how much things have really changed.