What began more than two decades ago as a collection of stories has evolved into "My Cape Town", a theatrical production celebrating resilience, community and the unsung heroes who built new lives after forced displacement.
Written and told by former news anchor and media personality Pat Pillai, the production centres on a fictional community newspaper, "My Cape Town", founded by a husband-and-wife team in the aftermath of District Six.
The couple eventually settled in Rylands, an area designated for Indian and mixed religious communities under apartheid.
The production will be staged at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, University of KwaZulu-Natal Howard College from August 14 to 16.
Source of Inspiration
Pillai said the stories were inspired by the lives of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and teachers who persevered despite the hardships of the time.
“While the Cape Flats got the dark stories that we all report on, I kept finding myself drawn to people who overcame and triumphed,” Pillai said.
The production looks back nostalgically at the 1970s and 1980s, a period when communities across South Africa were shaped by displacement, apartheid and hardship. At its heart are stories of ordinary people who refused to surrender to their circumstances.
“Mothers and fathers decided, ‘I can’t lay down and cry. I have a child to feed and to send to school. Those are the stories we capture, the ordinary, unknown people and heroes,” said Pillai.
Music, prayer, dance, laughter and celebration form an important part of the production, reflecting the multi-faith communities in which many of these families lived.
Musical director Melvin Peters has used an acoustic sound to capture that diversity, adding another dimension to the storytelling.
The central character is the editor of the fictional "My Cape Town" newspaper, who is compiling a 40th anniversary commemorative edition. As he revisits the stories of the past, he finds that they cannot be told without recalling the music, prayers, celebrations and laughter that accompanied everyday life.
Pillai said the production is not simply a story about Cape Town, but about people who could have lived anywhere in South Africa.
“It is a story not about Cape Town but about people that could be anywhere in South Africa that have been displaced,” he said.
The idea for the production developed unexpectedly. Pillai began writing the stories more than 20 years ago without any intention of turning them into a stage show.
The death of his father in 2018 prompted him to revisit the material. The subsequent Covid-19 pandemic gave him time to reflect on the stories and their significance.
“I realised I never got to share these stories while he was alive,” he said.
Return to Durban
"My Cape Town" was staged in Cape Town last year and now visits Durban, with music added to further enhance the production.
For Pillai, the Durban staging also marks a return to a city where he last performed at the Playhouse Theatre about 25 years ago, in a production honouring former president Nelson Mandela.
Pillai resigned from broadcasting when he turned 50, but his storytelling has continued through the production.
The production has already attracted interest from overseas, with enquiries from cities including Dublin, Auckland, Melbourne and Toronto about staging the show.
He believes its appeal lies in the universality of its characters and themes.
“These are universal characters. They are people who could be anywhere,” said Pillai.
Peters said he was pleasantly surprised when Pillai approached him earlier this year and invited him to be part of the production. The pair had previously worked together on two productions in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“Our role as musicians is integral to the performance because we are also storytellers. As the story unfolds, we tell our own stories through the music. The score is diverse, drawing on a range of genres, including pop, jazz, Western classical, gospel and African music.
“That variety captures the essence of the production. It is a vibrant and colourful show, with Pat portraying several characters in this one-man play. It has been a wonderful collaboration. The music is equally colourful, incorporating popular songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody alongside well-known jazz tunes,” said Peters.
Cape Town Vibrant Spirit
He said the music also seeks to capture the vibrant spirit of Cape Town.
“One of the pieces I wrote is called Cape Town Jive, which is based on a Ghoena rhythm. It is a dance style that originated in Cape Town and was popularised by the Minstrels. It opens the production, immediately establishing that atmosphere and setting the tone.
“We wanted to push the boundaries so that the production is not solely driven by the dialogue. The music is on par with Pat, who is the storyteller. In one scene, the music takes centre stage in a medley of six tunes, which is a highlight for us.
“It will be refreshing for audiences in Durban because it is nostalgic, taking them back to their younger days and reflecting on growing up during apartheid. Despite apartheid, there was a strong sense of community, and music played an integral role in bringing people together,” said Peters.
In keeping with the production’s emphasis on community, proceeds from the Durban performances will be donated to four organisations, the Aryan Benevolent Homes, the South African Hindu Maha Sabha, the Dennis Hurley Centre and the 1860 Heritage Centre.
taschica.pillay@nationalmg.co.za