MBABANE- The Mbabane Theatre Club played host to Finding My Voice, a new theatre production written and performed by Sibonisiwe Dlamini.
Directed by Samkelo Dlamini with soul-stirring vocal arrangements by Zandile Malinga, the production delves deep into the heavy realities of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), familial expectations, and the stark contrast in societal dynamics when raising a girl child compared to a boy. Above all, it serves as a triumphant narrative of rising from painful silence to discovering one’s own strength and voice.
The journey of Finding My Voice began modestly. According to Sibonisiwe, the entire production originated from a single monologue she sent to Director Samkelo Dlamini, who was immediately captivated by its raw power and potential. They then took everything from there adding some lines to make this play a phenomenon play.
“For me, this means growth as a writer because I have never produced my own work, and here I am tonight,” Sibonisiwe shared reflecting on the milestone. “Finding My Voice is close to my heart. It is for everybody, though in particular today it was directed to women. For me, it is to say: let us continue having these conversations” , she said.
The play represents the third showcase selected under the Culture Spaces Context Micro-seed Support for Women in the Arts, presented by the Eswatini Theatre Club with generous backing from the Austrian Cultural Forum Pretoria. Sibonisiwe was announced in July as one of six women selected for the funding initiative, launching into intensive rehearsals and production work in August.
Throughout the production, Dlamini delivered a star turn, effortlessly shifting between vastly different personas to mirror the multifaceted journey of self-discovery:
1.The Vulnerable Woman: Capturing the raw pain and emotional weight of societal and relational trauma.
2The Prayer Warrior: Grounding the story in spiritual resilience and hope.
3.The Painter: Visually and metaphorically painting herself as a Black woman reclaiming her identity and narrative.
4.The Courageous Survivor: A bold reflection of the artist herself, standing tall after triumphing over those who doubted her strength in the arts space.
